Fostering Deep & Focused Interestsin Children with ASDs

Valerie Paradiz, PhDElijah Wapner

Cleveland, Ohio Autism Today SummitOctober 11, 2008

Family Story

• Elijah’s diagnosis• Grassroots Self-

Advocacy• Embracing Autism as

a Culture• The Ebb & Flow of

Deep Interests

Early Years

• Hats• Balloons• Colors• Sketching• Val’s Shadow Traits• German Literature• Writing as Social

Scripting• Poetry & Prose• Elijah’s Cup

What is a deep interest?

Deep Interests & ASD

An area of knowledge or activity that a person with Autism Spectrum Difference (ASD) enjoys engaging in frequently and to a great degree, sometimes to the exclusion of most other activities, often more intensively than an average hobby or leisure time pursuit

Intrinsic Motivation

Activities that people do naturally and

spontaneously when they feel free to

follow their inner interests.

Ryan and Deci, “Self-Determination Theory and the Facilitation of Intrinsic Motivation,

Social Development, and Well-Being”

True or False?• Focused interests are obsessions.• They are non-functional.• They can indicate a person’s feelings of anxiety or

overwhelm.• Deep interests can lead to developing vocational

skills or a career.• They interrupt real learning in the classroom.• They undermine relationships with family members

at home.• They can be helpful in self-regulation.

The Power of Deep InterestsElijah’s Comedy Biography

Early Childhood

• Charlie Stims • Echolalia• Delayed Speech• Seizures• Auditory Sensitivity• Nonverbal

Entertainment

Middle Childhood

• Comedian Stims• Genres of Comedy• Memorizing Jokes• Social Scripting• Integrating Gestures

with Speech

Adolescence• Conflict Resolution• Original Material• MTV: True Life, I

Have Autism• Gotham Comedy Club• Stella Adler Studio

and Dramatic Training

• Micro Enterprise

Supporting Emerging & Focused Interests in the Classroom

For EducatorsIntegrating deep interests into classroom activities can…

• validate your students’ need for familiar structures

• inspire kids to try new activities they might avoid or refuse to do

• show your student that you appreciate how she thinks

• celebrate autistic culture!

For EducatorsIntegrating focused interests into classroom activities can…

• motivate students to attempt new subjects or topic areas

• inspire kids to practice study skills they might generally avoid or refuse to do

• be an avenue for promoting good self-esteem

• serve as a positive reinforcement

• win respect and admiration from peers

“Tapping into Special Interestsin the Classroom”

Valerie Paradiz, PhD

Autism Internet Modules (AIM)

www.AutismInternetModules.org

“Hi, I’m Mr. Inevitable”

Q & A

Contact

www.ValerieParadiz.comVal@ValerieParadiz.com

www.MrInevitable.comElijah@MrInevitable.com