Learned helplessness/Kids with Autism smarter then we think

Through my years of educating students with Autism, many of them have personal school aides, who help them get to class, take notes and keep track of their assignments.  Sometimes these students can develop learn helplessness or take advantage of their aides.  These students are sometimes more then capable of taking their own notes, but would rather their aide do it for them.  Sometimes the aide has taken the notes for so long that the child just thinks that they cannot take their own notes.

It is important as educators and parents to make sure we are always challenging our students so they do not develop these bad habits and so that they can achieve more then anyone ever thought they could.