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Patrick Mckee

Jennifer Rodrick

English 115

18 October 2018

Asperger’s Syndrome and Conformity

In society we all conform and adapt based on our surroundings, and Asperger’s

individuals also conform to their space too. Asperger’s struggle with things as they have a hard

time understand people, like emotions. Asperger individuals become more performative from

positive support, like at a school group, which results in a higher-level boost in confidence, self-

esteem, and communication which is vital in interactions between people.

Asperger individuals need support in order to strengthen their communication. Schools

can be the perfect breeding ground to better communication skills for people. According to an

article by Jennifer A. Cullen, a researcher at Widener University, said, “As students were asked

to identify their social needs, the responses and discussions related to social needs expanded to

include discussion of some elements related to daily living skills and academic needs; therefore,

a general category of Needs Related to College emerged. The main category of Needs Related to

College further diverged into four subcategories: Social Needs, Academic Needs, Daily Living

Needs, and How Those Needs Are Met.”. (Cullen). The main goal of the research article was too

see if the Asperger college students were receiving enough support, and learn the possible ways

that the schools can support people with Asperger Syndrome. The researcher created four

subclasses in order to see if the entire group of participants are getting enough help. The first

subclass addressed the social needs of the participants. Those include interactions with other
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students and staff. The participants were mixed as some were trying to understand and fit in with

people while others feel they are fine being the way they are. The second subclass focuses on

Academic needs, mostly referring to getting help with group assignments and understand certain

things, like metaphors or abstract ideas. The third subclass focuses on daily living needs, which

address on how each of them live and how each environment encourages stronger

communications. Most reported to live at home, on campus in the dorms, and renting out

apartments. The final subclass How are the needs being met, focused on how each different

factor to persons life influences. The influences come from friends, family, and school. These

positive spaces promote healthy growth in communication skills for the people.

Adolescents suffer from a wide range of emotions like depression and anxiety. People in

these years suffer from low self-esteem. Asperger Syndrome people suffer from low self-esteem

which leads to depression. Depression is bad for anyone and it is harder for Asperger Syndrome

individuals to express their emotions fully. According to a researcher Kristin Anderson,

researcher at the University of Colorado, said, Also, informing all students that the classroom is a

safe place where bullying does not exist and all students’ ideas are valued equally, helps set the

tone for a successful year. Often times changes in schedule and routine will throw off a student

with AS, so informing students of changes well in advance will help them prepare for the

modifications. With the new expansion of technology into many classrooms, teachers are better

prepared to differentiate instruction for their students. Since students with AS often respond well

to visuals, graphics, and models, computers allow students to get these necessary

accommodations.”. (Anderson). This article was focusing on the advancements that are currently

helping and more ways we can support individuals with Asperger Syndrome in the community. It

talks about keeping the individuals away from bullies which can have a disastrous effect on their
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self-esteem. The article also talked about social support, teach people in general on ways to

communicate with each other and be friendly. It mentions that schools are making it easier to

keep the individuals safe from harm from other individuals. In the same topic, schools are giving

one on one aides to assist the person with Asperger Syndrome. The other topic in the article talks

about school support resources, which include therapy and providing a group of people to create

a positive impact on the individual with Asperger Syndrome. The last main topic of support

comes in the form of family. It mentions way that the family can support and influence people by

sending them to out of school groups with similar issues. This create a space that has a positive

growth for the Asperger individuals by providing a place that they can get support to develop

strong self-esteem.

Confidence is an important key in everyone’s decision making meaning it gives us

courage to do things. Asperger Syndrome people need confidence too, as it helps them learn and

explore the mysterious emotions that this world contains. According to researcher Jonathon

Vincent, a researcher of autism at York St John University, said, “One practitioner noted, I think

quite often with the parents, it’s a massive transition for them because they are letting go of the

person they have kind of been looking after for the last eighteen or maybe even more years...and

so if we are able to give them some confidence then that feeds back to the students. A clear

relationship is identified between how the parents feel about the transition process and its impact

on the students” and, “any parents also reported feeling relieved that they could see their son or

daughter engaging in activities, growing in confidence and feeling happy as the statements above

suggest.”. (Vincent). The research in this article was done to determine what is the most effective

way to meet each students’ transitions needs as the transition into school and also the effective

programs in helping people with Asperger Syndrome. The article took in different prospective,
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from teachers, to students, and to the parents. The teachers talked about teaching social skills and

making activities that the person with Asperger Syndrome can participate in. The teachers also

mentioned that they have made a way for everyone to talk to each other and gain new

prospectives. The students with Asperger Syndrome talked about wanting to belong and also

being able to understand other people’s emotions. The parents addressed the real challenges that

their children will face when they go off too higher education. The findings of the research

indicated that programs that help develop relationships and social skills gave the individuals

more confidence in their abilities to perform well in upper education. Activities including life

building and learning how to survive by yourself our indicated to be important skills. The article

shows that these programs and creating a positive space to help the people with Asperger

Syndrome conform to society’s needs. This also gives them the confidence to help themselves

and understand people better.

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Work Cited:

Anderson, Kristin. “Asperger's Syndrome in General Elementary Education: Problems,

Resources, and Improvement for All.” CU Scholar, 28 Apr. 2015,

scholar.colorado.edu/honr_theses/777/?utm_source=scholar.colorado.edu%2Fhonr_theses

%2F777&utm_medium=PDF&utm_campaign=PDFCoverPages. Accessed. Oct. 18,

2018.

Cullen, Jennifer A. “The Needs of College Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders and

Asperger's Syndrome.” Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, Association

on Higher Education and Disability. 30 Nov. 2014, eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1066322.

Accessed. Oct. 18, 2018.

Vincent, Jonathan. “Welcome to Repository at York St John.” Research at York St John, Mar.

2016, ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/1819/. Accessed. Oct. 18, 2018.