Autistic Fixations

How should educators and parents handle a child's autistic fixations on things such as vacuum cleaners or trains?

Fixations should be used to motivate schoolwork and education. If an autistic child is fixated on trains, try to use his interest on trains to motivate reading or learning arithmetic. Encourage him to read about trains or do mathematical problems with trains.

The child's intense interest on trains can be very useful to motivate him to read. It is a mistake to take fixations away from them. However, these children also need to learn that there are some situations when talking about trains is not appropriate.