Fostering Deep & Focused Interests

in Children with ASDs

Valerie Paradiz, PhD

Elijah Wapner
Autism One 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
The Adventure…
• Elijah’s 5th Grade Crisis
• The ASPIE School:
A Haven for Building
Confidence
• Val’s Diagnosis
• Elijah’s Comedy
• The Sudbury School
• Infrastructure for Schools
and Organizations
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 Interests
Elijah’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
• Self Protection
• Conflict Resolution
• Timing & Delivery
• Original Material
• MTV: True Life, I
Have Autism
• Gotham Comedy Club
• Stella Adler Studio
• Micro Enterprise
Supporting Emerging & Focused Interests
at home and in the classroom
 For Educators
Integrating focused interests into lesson plans 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 Interests
in the Classroom”
Valerie Paradiz, PhD

Autism Internet Modules (AIM)

www.AutismInternetModules.org
 ISA™ Lesson Planning
Fostering Focused Interests at School
 For Families
Integrating deep interests into family activities can…

• validate your child’s

need for familiar
structures
• inspire kids to try new
activities they might
avoid or refuse to do
• show your child that you
appreciate how she
thinks
• celebrate autistic
culture!
 Name that Aspie!

And name that focused interest, too!

 Mr. Inevitable

American Air Guitarist

Q&A
Contact
www.ValerieParadiz.com
Val@ValerieParadiz.com

www.MrInevitable.com
Elijah@MrInevitable.com