Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism is a complex developmental disorder that usually first appear during the first three yeas of life. Autism is a spectrum of disorders. Persons with autism are likely to exhibit one or more of the following traits:

1. Absence or delay of speech and language
  • Repeating word or phrases instead of normal responsive language
  • Difficulty in expressing needs, use gestures or pointing instead of words


    • 2. Difficulty in social interaction
  • Absence of eye contact
  • Like to be alone, not interested in what their peers are doing
  • Indifference to others’ distress or pain


    • 3. Odd behavio    urs
  • May be overactive or very passive
  • Insistence on routine, often have difficulty dealing with changes in routine
  • Inappropriate tantrums or laughter for no apparent reason
  • Inappropriate attachment to objects


    • 4. Sensory challenges
  • Over or under sensitivity of the five senses (sight, hearing, touch, smell & taste), e.g. no response to pain or overreaction to the sound of a door closing


    • 5. Play
  • Lack of imaginative play, does not initiate pretend games
  • Does not imitate others’ actions
    •
    Nicholas Chiu
    Nicholas (born in 1979) is a young man who has moderate brain damage and autism. He is caring, gentle and generous by nature. He says ‘excuse me’ whenever he wants to interrupt a conversation. He reminds his teachers to be careful of the hot tray while using the oven during cooking lessons. Without prompts, Nicholas is generous in sharing his snacks with friends.

    Nicholas gets exhausted easily in warm environment and especially when the task is demanding. Being aware of this, he asks for rest when he needs to take a break. Nicholas can be upset by changes in his routine. He may grumble and talk about the same topic many times a day or throughout the whole week. However, such ‘outbursts’ can be reduced or even prevented by giving him advance notice of the changes. Over the years, Nicholas has learnt to self-regulate his behaviours with the use of a ‘token system’. When he has earned enough ‘tokens’, he is allowed to choose what he wants to have or where he wants to go.

    Nicholas has a good sense of colour scheme. This is reflected clearly in his cross-stitch work and his dressing. His cross-stitch works are colourful and never fail to impress his teachers. Nicholas also chooses his daily outfits on his own. Whether it’s exercise, excursion or lunch outing, he is always dressed for the occasion.

    In summary, Nicholas is a pleasant person who has his preferences, interests, strengths and weaknesses, just like you and me.

    Written by Nicholas’ teacher, Tan Poh Suan