Prevention of absenteeism and school failure in students with ASD: Improving the transition from primary to secondary school

People with autism may have very limited interests, which are considered atypical in focus or intensity. If the subject of interest is not common to the age and environment to which the child belongs, such interests are atypical in focus. For example, a person with autism may be fascinated by turning the washing machine drum, tree twigs, shadows, spinning objects, and the like. On the other hand, some people with autism may have relatively typical interests in national flags, railway traffic, specific scientific disciplines, etc, but such interests are very high in intensity, so they spend too much time doing activities related to the subjects of their interest. Limited interests are usually associated with perseverance in speech, excessive elaboration of always the same topic, and resistance to change. If a student with autism exhibits atypical interests in one area, consideration should be given to how they can be used to study other subjects and develop social interests. It is a much better strategy than banning or changing them. In rare situations, limited interests are of such a nature as to violate legal norms, in which case they should be redirected with the support of autism experts.