Autism – 15/05/2015
As Aspergers has become part of our vocabulary, we are starting to understand more
about the amazing minds of students that are diagnosed within the spectrum of Autism and how they view the world. I am sure it comes as no surprise that there are many students with Autism that love the game of chess and are excelling their skill. And it is especially for these students that teaching chess has very little to do with rules of the game and so much about their development. On a regular basis I am invited into the home of a family that would like to try chess for their child, sometimes because the student has already taught themselves the game and parents want to encourage their growth. The key to teaching someone with Autism is communication, creating a world so small that it becomes purely about the 64 squares in front of them. Clear rules and structure provide the safety when they attempt this new game. You teach them how the different pieces move, providing evidence on how different rules apply for different people depending on their role in life. And then suddenly you see it happen – the best part – a smile, the start of a conversation; first with the pieces in front of them and then with the face on the other side of the board. They discover it is safe to talk about their plan of attack, how they will defend their king and what they will be doing next, with the person they are playing with. For those that have great difficulty in making new friends and holding a social conversation, they have just discovered a whole new world or people that they can interact with safely! Chess can become the bridge between two worlds.
In an environment where it has become so easy to interact via electronic devices, it has made making new friends even harder. The comment I hear most from students is why they like to play chess; it has allowed them to make new friends. And the truth is this is not just for students with Autism. A parent that has difficulty communicating with their teenager, grandpa that does not understand his 8 year old grandson – all can communicate over a game of chess!
Why not comment and tell us how you make new friends.
