Strengths and Skills for Autistic Students

All students,  have a unique set of skills, strengths and talents. When working with autistic students  it is  important to identify strengths. This will help unlock their potential in engagement, learning and interaction.

Some autistic students  will be very driven by their particular skills and interests and if these are utilised appropriately, it will increase motivation and success in learning.

Some examples of strengths:

• Specialist knowledge in topics of interest
• Exceptional memory for facts and figures
• Very high level of motivation in topics and activities that are of interest
• Ability to carry out tasks with a high degree of accuracy
• Excellent attention to detail
• Ability to follow instructions and rules very accurately when taught in the correct way
• Exceptional skills in creative arts, such as Art and Music
• Ability to see the world from a different perspective and so bring a different insight
• Ability to bring an innovative approach to problem solving
• Tendency to be honest and non-judgemental
• Tendency to have a strong sense of loyalty in all social relationships
• Unique sense of humour
• Passionate about hobbies and interests
• Enthusiasm for favourite interests with a drive to share this enjoyment with others

All students, whether or not they have a diagnosis of autism have a unique set of skills, strengths and talents. When working with students with autism, it is particularly important to identify the student’s strengths. This will be the key to unlocking their potential in engagement, learning and interaction.

Some students with autism will be very driven by their particular skills and interests and if these are utilised appropriately, it will increase motivation and success in learning.

Some examples of strengths commonly associated with autism are:

• Specialist knowledge in topics of interest
• Exceptional memory for facts and figures
• Very high level of motivation in topics and activities that are of interest
• Ability to carry out tasks with a high degree of accuracy
• Excellent attention to detail
• Ability to follow instructions and rules very accurately when taught in the correct way
• Exceptional skills in creative arts, such as Art and Music
• Ability to see the world from a different perspective and so bring a different insight
• Ability to bring an innovative approach to problem solving
• Tendency to be honest and non-judgemental
• Tendency to have a strong sense of loyalty in all social relationships
• Unique sense of humour
• Passionate about hobbies and interests
• Enthusiasm for favourite interests with a drive to share this enjoyment with others