Spectrum SKILLZ – Intellectual development of children on the spectrum

Spectrum SKILLZ – Intellectual development of children on the spectrum

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by impaired communication and social interaction. However, the consequences of ASD on a child's development extend across all areas. Because ASD affects communication, it also impacts cognitive development and can lead to learning difficulties.

To be clear, ASD is not a learning disorder. In fact, children with ASD typically have average or above-average intelligence. The problem is that they have communication difficulties that directly impact learning because their language skills are underdeveloped. Because they struggle with listening and speaking, learning things in the same way as others can be problematic. With this in mind, it's important to understand the different ways that learning is affected.

Children with ASD can have trouble concentrating and paying attention. One reason is that they may overreact or underreact to sensory input. Sometimes, it may seem like they're not listening to people talking to them, but they can also become very anxious about even the quietest sounds. Children with ASD also have a very narrow range of interests, making it difficult for them to focus on learning new and different things.

Another area they struggle with is executive functioning. Children with ASD have difficulty organizing and problem-solving. This is because they often get lost in details and are unable to see the big picture. This makes it difficult for them to summarize ideas, such as presenting the main idea of ​​a story.

The Spectrum SKILLZ program was developed specifically for children with autism spectrum disorder. Its greatest strength is that it supports the development of the whole child… where many other programs fall short. SKILLZ utilizes game-based learning as a tool to develop missing skills. This essentially helps develop language and concentration. Because the program is specifically designed for children with autism spectrum disorder, every effort is made to provide engaging opportunities to develop language and attention skills.

For example, in the "I Like" activity, students practice good listening skills by demonstrating their ability to listen to their friends by walking around and sharing things they like about a topic chosen by the instructor. This will challenge them mentally, requiring them to listen to their peers and being able to repeat what their friend said, as well as adding something about themselves. This activity helps them focus, concentrate, and develop their language skills.

With the Spectrum SKILLZ program, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) now have resources to help them develop in areas that are more challenging and underdeveloped compared to their peers without ASD. Using game-based learning techniques and highly trained instructors, children with ASD can simultaneously improve in all areas of development.