How to support children with autism learn their peers’ names

Did you know that some children with autism struggle to recognise people’s faces?

I was stunned years ago, at the start of my career, when I realised that one of my students didn’t know the names of his classmates. This boy, who had autism, enjoyed being with other children and often engaged in play and conversation, which is what made it even more confusing at the time.

My son Sebastian, who also has autism, struggles with that too. Of course, he remembers and knows his close relatives and friends well, but outside this circle, he finds it hard to recall people’s names and faces.

That is because some children with autism can find it difficult to recognise people’s faces. This deficiency is also known as facial blindness. It does not mean they can’t recognise people, but it can mean that it might take them longer to identify a new face.

While recognising faces and remembering people’s names might be an issue for some children with autism, there are ways to support them so they can get to know their classmates.

In this video, I discuss two classroom activities that can help your students learn their peers’ names and get to know the other children in the class better.

P.S. Forward this email to any colleagues that you think might benefit from this information.