It is important to focus on the strengths of autistic children rather than trying to get them to spend lots of time on activities they don’t find interesting.

My Experiences of School

When I was at school, the two main subjects were maths and English. I hated maths, and I hated the fact that I had to do it. No matter how much I tried, it was very difficult to get me to do something that I hated or was not interested in. It took me so long to do maths, and my teacher didn’t allow me to move onto my English work until I had done my maths, so as a result, I rarely got to do English.

I grew up thinking I wasn’t intelligent, and people around me thought the same. It was not an enjoyable experience at all. However, now I know this is not the case.

I hated school, and the only other option was quitting, so I stopped trying. When I got older, I went to college and got qualifications, but it wasn’t until I did my degrees with The Open University that I became more academic.

Image by Bruno from Pixabay – colour adjustments by Louise.

Exposure Is Everything

Primary schools today expose children to a wide variety of subjects, which gives them a good start. It is much better. School didn’t introduce me to other subjects until secondary. There were occasional art and computer studies when I was at primary school, but not very often. I think it is beneficial for autistic children to be introduced to a wide range of subjects, as it gives them more options and exposes them to what they might enjoy doing in the future to create a successful career. They can focus for hours on topics that interest them.

I have always been involved in society. I was diagnosed late, but being involved in the world around me has enriched me. With the necessary accommodations and participation, the lives of autistic people are much better.

Final Thoughts

It is beneficial to find out what your child is interested in and work on supporting that area. They have to do the rest of their school subjects, but their interests are a goal to work towards what they might want to do in the future. Don’t choose their careers for them.

Sources

• Focus on strengths as well as challenges (2019) Autistica. Available at: https://www.autistica.org.uk/news/focus-on-strengths-and-challenges (Accessed: 23 August 2025).