Student Profile of Strengths, Needs, and What Works for a Hypothetical ASD Middle School Student “Alex”
Student has trouble adjusting to new routines, surprises, changes in routine, or a breakdown in structure. He likes things to be predictable, clear, and orderly. When there is a breakdown in the normal routine, when the day is too chaotic, or when Alex’s schedule is too full of new things, he becomes overwhelmed. This may be indicated by a change in his level of responsiveness (e.g., slow to answer), the appearance of inattention to teacher instruction or direction (seems preoccupied, distracted), excess talking or silliness, withdrawal from peer interaction (expresses a preference to work alone), overreaction to making mistakes or being corrected, increased rigidity in the way things need to be done, “spacing out,” and slow to get started on his work.
