Question for those whose children have hf autism

amother

OP ↓

Yesterday at 7:11 am

I was told this week that learning gemara is very hard for boys with hf autism even if they are smart. I want to know if this is a case by case or in general. My son is smart. Enjoys learning chumash and mishnayos (with my husband) and is very into doing what rebbe says. I spoke to someone this week who said her son is smart with hf autism and once he got to gemara staying mainstream was impossible. I want to be prepared. My son is in 3rd. Do I need to make a switch for middle school or will he maybe be OK? He is a well behaved kid in general which is why he is mainstream.

amother

Lily

Yesterday at 7:29 am

For some gemara is very out of context and others can master it easily.
I know plenty of people not on spectrum who can't understand or learn gemara independently and I know people with HFA who are a baki in all areas of torah

amother

Scarlet

Yesterday at 7:31 am

My HF son is in 5th grade and just started Gemara. He sounds very similar to the way you described your son...very smart and loves to learn. Gemara is definitely more of a challenge as there's a lot of gray area thinking which is a challenge for him. However he has a lot of support, he has someone learning with him at home every night and he also learns with someone who his school hired to learn with the boys who struggle. It's still the beginning so we'll have to see how it goes but I think there is definitely potential and you should not base other people's experiences on what might be best for your son.

amother

Camellia

Yesterday at 7:36 am

What age is 3rd grade?

Im in England.
My son is 10 and started gemara this year, bh doing well.

He is always better at kodesh then english.
He has got a good memory.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Yesterday at 7:42 am

amother Camellia wrote:

What age is 3rd grade?

Im in England.
My son is 10 and started gemara this year, bh doing well.

He is always better at kodesh then english.
He has got a good memory.

My son is 8. 5th grade is 10 years old in usa.

amother

Lavender

Yesterday at 8:00 am

My son is 15, he had a hard time in the beginning learning gemarah because he wasn't interested. As of now he's caught up, and understands everything but he doesn't enjoy it very much. He's in a special Ed program for social and focusing issues though so idk if that makes a difference

amother

Cream

Yesterday at 8:03 am

Huh?
My son with HFASD was top of his class in Gemara and is now learning in one of the highest level yeshivos in Israel. The bochurim queue up to be his chavrusa.
I know many other HFASD boys who are also top, top in terms of learning and it's the social emotional piece that pulls them down.
The times they struggle may be when there are ten opinions and they like it to be black and white with clear answers but even then, they're often ok.
People get confused with HFASD. HF means that in terms of the autism he is high functioning. It says nothing about his academic functioning. A kid can be a genius in learning and low level autism or low level learning and HFASD or any other combination.
Unless your son has other signs of learning difficulties, I would not be too worried.

amother

Petunia

Yesterday at 8:43 am

We have hired someone to work with son using Feurstien’s method and it has contributed to his ability to master Gemara

amother

Bellflower

Yesterday at 8:52 am

My autistic husband learned gemara just fine but he prefers learning halacha, and was much happier when he joined a halacha kollel over a yeshiva.

amother

Birch

Yesterday at 8:56 am

My son is 19 and is now in his second year of bais Medarish. Doing great and no issues with learning. Sometimes needs to take breaks, but is able to do three sedurim a day. Much Hatzlacha!!! It’s a journey….

TwinsMommy

Yesterday at 3:57 pm

How are all your HF autism sons in Jewish schools? The Jewish schools in most communities don't have the support needed. My son never went to Jewish schools.

amother

↑ Snow

Yesterday at 4:11 pm

TwinsMommy wrote:

How are all your HF autism sons in Jewish schools? The Jewish schools in most communities don't have the support needed. My son never went to Jewish schools.

Again, every asd case is vastly different

amother

↑ OP

Yesterday at 4:17 pm

TwinsMommy wrote:

How are all your HF autism sons in Jewish schools? The Jewish schools in most communities don't have the support needed. My son never went to Jewish schools.

We live in nyc with lots of services available. Plus my son is a darling. Many are not.

amother

Crocus

Yesterday at 4:21 pm

TwinsMommy wrote:

How are all your HF autism sons in Jewish schools? The Jewish schools in most communities don't have the support needed. My son never went to Jewish schools.

My son gets OT, therapy once a week, he gets extra reading help and he is medicated. He has made tremendous strides. He is also very bright, athletic, sweet and well mannered so it's gotten him far. If he needed a shadow, I'd get one.