Issues, Trends, and Scientifically-Based Practices for Children
and Youth with Asperger Syndrome
Richard Simpson, Ed.D., University of
Kansas
Children and youth with Asperger Syndrome have dramatically
increased over the past decade. These individuals are significantly
taxing the skills and resources of parents, school personnel, and
other service providers, at least in part because of significant
lack of understanding of the disorder and those strategies and
methods that have proven most effective in producing desired
outcomes. Related to their unique characteristics and needs, the
success of individuals with Asperger Syndrome requires use of
scientifically-based and specially designed methods. This session
will focus on an analysis of issues and effective practices and
strategies for educating, managing, and supporting learners with
autism related disabilities, including identification, diagnostic,
curricular, policy, and programmatic issues; management,
structuring and support measures; academic and learning
facilitation strategies; and social interaction and social skill
enhancement methods.
Dr. Richard L. Simpson is Professor of Special Education at the
University of Kansas. He has also been a special education teacher,
school psychologist, and coordinator of a community mental health
outreach program. Other professional experiences include directing
several University of Kansas and University of Kansas Medical
Center demonstration programs for students with autism spectrum
disorders and coordinating numerous federal grant programs related
to students with autism spectrum disorders and other
disabilities He has authored numerous books, articles, and
tests on the topic of students with autism spectrum disorders,
including Asperger Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and
Educators (2003) and the Asperger Syndrome Diagnostic
Scale (2001). Dr. Simpson was the senior editor of the
professional journal Focus on Autism and Other Developmental
Disabilities from 1995-2003. Awards include the Council for
Exceptional Children Research Award, Midwest Symposium for
Leadership in Behavior Disorders Leadership Award, and Autism
Society of Kansas Leadership Award.