Mathematics at KS1 and autism spectrum disorder

These sections refer to high-functioning autism and Asperger’s syndrome. Begin by reading about the main challenges for children with autism and Asperger’s syndrome across subject areas. 

Challenges specific to maths at KS1 are:

• Estimating - it may be difficult because imagination is required and it does not follow obvious rules.
• A child with sensory processing disorder may find practical tasks very challenging. They may not use equipment appropriately or have the motor skills required to carry out tasks.
• Children with Asperger’s syndrome find it difficult to answer the question ‘why?’ because the concept is developed from a combination of reading and life-experience.

You can:

• Break the process up into small steps that can be applied to different circumstances - this will help the child to develop their own strategies.
• The child with Asperger’s syndrome will find any change of routine difficult, so when practical work is scheduled, try to prepare them, through discussion or a social story.
• Think about how worksheets are set out: a direction such as ‘write your answer in the box’ will confuse the unprepared child and will need explaining.