High Functioning Autism (ASD Level 1) & School Refusal

September 3rd, 2025

If your child has high-functioning autism and refuses to go to school, you’re not alone. Many parents find themselves in this difficult situation—watching their child or teen struggle every morning with anxiety because they feel overwhelmed by the school environment.

While level 1 autism (sometimes called “high-functioning autism”) often comes with strong abilities and unique strengths, it can also bring challenges with transitions, social interactions, and sensory sensitivities that can make school feel overwhelming.

As a parent, it’s natural to feel worried, frustrated, or even guilty when your child or teen doesn’t want to attend school. You may be wondering if it’s just a phase, if something bigger is going on, or how you can get the right support without making things worse. The good news is that there are effective strategies and resources to help both you and your teen navigate school refusal/ school avoidance with compassion and structure.

Keep reading to break down what school refusal looks like in teens with high-functioning autism, why it happens, and—most importantly—how you can help your teen feel safer, more confident, and supported in returning to school.

What is Level 1 Autism?

Level 1 Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD Level 1) is often described as the “mildest” form of autism, but that doesn’t mean it’s without challenges. Children with Level 1 autism usually have average to above-average intelligence and language skills, but they may need extra support with social communication, flexible thinking, and managing emotions.

These children can often function independently in many areas of life, but they may still find it difficult to adapt to new situations, handle unexpected changes, or navigate the complex social world of school. That’s why even though they might appear to be “doing fine” on the surface, parents and teachers may notice struggles with anxiety, friendships, or rigid routines.

ADS Level 1 - Three Functional Levels of Autism

What is High Functioning Autism?

“High functioning autism” is not a formal medical diagnosis but a term that many parents, educators, and professionals still use. It refers to individuals with level 1 autism who have strong verbal and cognitive skills, but who still experience the core features of autism—such as difficulties with social interaction, sensory sensitivities, or repetitive behaviors.

Because children and teens with high functioning autism are often articulate and capable, their challenges can sometimes be overlooked or misunderstood. Teachers might assume they don’t need extra help, when in reality these children may be working very hard just to cope with the noise, unpredictability, and social demands of a school day. This mismatch between abilities and hidden struggles can lead to stress, frustration, and in some cases, school refusal.

What is School Refusal?

School refusal is more than just a child not wanting to get up in the morning—it’s a pattern of consistent difficulty attending school due to emotional distress. For some children, this looks like frequent complaints of stomachaches or headaches. For others, it can show up as meltdowns, panic, or outright refusal to leave home.

In children or teens with level 1 autism, school refusal is often connected to underlying challenges such as anxiety, sensory overload, bullying, or difficulty adjusting to changes in routine. It’s important to recognize that school refusal is not a sign of laziness or poor parenting. Rather, it’s a sign that a child is feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope with the demands of the school environment.

Understanding the “why” behind school refusal is the first step toward finding solutions that help your child feel supported and capable of returning to school with greater confidence.

Head to our blog " Understanding School Refusal in Teens" to read more.

Why Do Teens with High Functioning Autism Refuse School?

School refusal is rarely about a teen simply being “stubborn” or “lazy.” For teens with high functioning autism, it’s usually the result of feeling overwhelmed by challenges that others may not see. Some of the most common reasons include:

Anxiety and Social Pressures: Navigating friendships, group work, and unstructured time like lunch or passing periods can be stressful. Many teens with autism experience intense social anxiety, making school feel exhausting or even frightening.
Sensory Overload: Bright lights, crowded hallways, loud classrooms, and constant transitions can overwhelm the senses and lead to shutdowns or meltdowns.
Rigid Routines and Transitions: Unexpected schedule changes, substitute teachers, or new assignments may be harder to process and adapt to.
Academic Demands: Even if a teen is intellectually capable, executive functioning struggles (organization, time management, planning) can make schoolwork feel impossible to keep up with.
Bullying or Misunderstanding: Sadly, some students with autism face bullying or feel misunderstood by peers and even teachers, which can add to the reluctance to attend school.

Understanding the underlying causes and root of the issue can help you better develop ways to support your child instead of just focusing on attendance itself.

Signs Your Child May Be Experiencing School Refusal

School refusal doesn’t always look the same, and it’s not just your teen saying, “I don’t want to go.” Teens with high functioning autism (ASD level 1) may express distress in both direct and subtle ways. Some common signs include:

Frequent Physical Complaints: Stomachaches, headaches, nausea, or fatigue that tend to appear before school but fade later in the day.
Emotional Distress: Morning meltdowns, panic attacks, or heightened anxiety tied specifically to school days.
Avoidance Behaviors: Taking longer to get ready, “forgetting” materials, or stalling in ways that delay leaving the house.
Changes in Sleep or Appetite: Difficulty falling asleep due to worry about the next day, or changes in eating patterns.
Decline in Academic Engagement: Missing assignments, skipping classes, or losing interest in school activities they once enjoyed.
Withdrawal or Isolation: Avoiding conversations about school, spending more time alone, or showing irritability when school is mentioned.

Recognizing these patterns early can help give parents the opportunity to step in with compassion, open communication, and the right support before school refusal becomes a long-term struggle.

How to Support Your Child at Home

When school refusal begins, home often becomes the first (and sometimes only) safe place your child feels comfortable. While this can be overwhelming for parents, there are practical ways you can create an environment that helps your teen feel supported while gently preparing them to return to school.

Validate Their Feelings: Let your child know that you understand school feels hard. Instead of minimizing their struggles, acknowledge them and reassure them they’re not alone.
Build Predictable Routines: Children with high functioning autism often thrive with structure. Consistent morning, homework, and bedtime routines can reduce stress and create stability.
Practice Coping Skills Together: Try breathing exercises, mindfulness activities, or sensory breaks your teen can also use during the school day.
Create a Calm Morning Environment: Keep mornings as low-stress as possible—prepare clothes, backpacks, and lunches the night before to minimize chaos.
Set Gentle Expectations: While compassion is essential, avoid completely removing school-related expectations. Encourage small steps, like working on homework at home or visiting the school briefly, to gradually rebuild confidence.
Celebrate Small Wins: Recognize and praise even small steps toward school engagement. Progress may be slow, but every step forward matters.

Supporting your child at home is about striking a balance between empathy and encouragement—showing them that their feelings are valid while helping them learn skills to cope with school-related challenges.

Working with Schools to Create a Supportive Plan

Parents don’t have to face school refusal alone. Partnering with your child’s school can make a huge difference in reducing anxiety and helping your teen feel understood. A supportive plan involves open communication, collaboration, and individualized strategies that address your child’s specific needs.

Communicate Early and Often: Share your concerns with teachers, counselors, and administrators as soon as school starts. The earlier a plan is in place, the better.
Request Accommodations: Many children with high functioning autism qualify for a 504 plan or Individualized Education Program (IEP). These can provide support such as modified schedules, sensory breaks, or social skills support.
Collaborate with Teachers: Work together to identify classroom triggers and strategies. For example, sitting near the front to minimize distractions, or allowing alternative participation in group activities.
Plan Gradual Reintegration: If your child has missed a lot of school, see if your school can create a step-by-step return plan. This might include shorter days at first, or focusing on favorite classes to ease the transition.
Encourage Positive School Connections: Find ways for your teen to connect with supportive staff or peers. A trusted teacher, counselor, or “safe person” at school can make returning feel less overwhelming.
Keep Communication Open with Your Child: Regularly check in about what’s working and what isn’t. Encourage honesty without fear of judgment so you can adjust the plan together.

When schools, parents, and mental health professionals work as a team, children with high functioning autism are much more likely to feel safe, supported, and capable of returning to the classroom successfully.

When to Seek Professional Help

It’s normal for every child to have an “off” day here and there, but when school refusal/ school avoidance becomes a persistent struggle, professional support can make a significant difference. If your teen’s refusal to attend school lasts more than a couple of weeks, or if it’s causing serious stress for your family, it may be time to reach out for help.

You should consider seeking professional support if:

Your child experiences intense anxiety, panic, or meltdowns regularly before school.
School refusal is leading to declining grades or frequent absences.
Your child shows changes in sleep, appetite, or mood that seem linked to school.
Your family feels overwhelmed, exhausted, or unsure how to handle daily school battles.
Attempts at home-based strategies haven’t been enough.

A mental health professional can help identify the underlying causes of school refusal and provide tailored strategies to support both your child and your family. Early intervention not only helps your child return to school more smoothly, but also prevents the problem from becoming more deeply rooted over time.

Treatment Options for School Refusal in Level 1 Autism

The most effective treatment plans for school refusal when teens with high functioning autism are involved are often personalized and may combine several approaches:

Individual Therapy: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and other evidence-based individual therapies help children build coping skills for anxiety, manage stress, and reframe negative thoughts about school.
Family Therapy: School refusal affects the entire household. Family therapy provides parents with tools to support their child while also improving communication and reducing household stress.
Social Skills Training: Many children with high functioning autism benefit from structured social skills training programs that help them practice social interactions, boosting confidence in peer settings.
Psychiatric Support: For some teens, medication may be recommended to help manage severe anxiety, depression, or other co-occurring conditions that make school attendance difficult.
Group Therapy or Support Groups: Peer-based group therapy support can help children feel less isolated and give parents a network of families going through similar challenges.
Structured Programs (PHP or IOP): This is a great option that provides individual therapy, family therapy, psychiatry support, and group therapy all in one. When outpatient therapy isn’t enough, more intensive treatment is available. Teen Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP program ) and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP programs) provide daily therapeutic support, skill-building, and structure to help children and teens stabilize and gradually return to school.

With the right combination of professional support, school collaboration, and family involvement, many children with autism and school refusal make meaningful progress. Treatment helps them not only return to the classroom but also build lifelong skills for managing anxiety and navigating challenges with greater confidence.

Teen PHP/IOP Program for School Refusal

High-functioning ASD teens often mask deep distress while trying to appear “fine.” When school refusal surfaces, it's a red flag showing that underlying anxiety or mood issues have become too intense to manage alone. Our Teen PHP/IOP Program (ages 13-17) doesn’t just treat symptoms—it supports your teen, your family, and their return to a daily life.

Maintains Important Daily Structure

Your teen continues attending school, preserving routine and peer connection. After school, they receive structured therapeutic support—no residential stay required.

Addresses School Refusal Head‑on

Whether it's crippling anxiety, overwhelming mood swings, or avoidance rooted in social stress, our program is designed to help your teen re-engage with school through gentle, consistent support integrated into daily life.

Delivers Tailored, Evidence‑Based Care

Using proven therapies like DBT, CBT, and ACT, along with hands-on modalities like mindfulness, art, yoga, and movement, we help teens build tangible coping skills. Family involvement is central—communication skills, emotional regulation strategies, and crisis planning are woven into treatment.

Balance between therapy and daily life demands

Both mental health treatment program options include individual and family sessions to support healing at home.

PHP Program: 5 days a week in the late afternoon/early evening. (12:00 - 4:00pm at our Evanston clinic & 12:00 - 4:00pm at our Arlington Heights clinic)
IOP Program: 3-5 days a week in the evening (4:30- 7:30pm at our Evanston clinic & 1:00 - 4:00pm at our Arlington Heights clinic).

Healing Beyond the Classroom

Our programs help restore emotional safety, which is often lost when school feels unbearable. We help rebuild routine and confidence, helping reverse the spiral of avoidance and academic decline. Our programs also help empower your family with tools for navigating emotional crises, communication breakdowns, and more. To get more information on our Teen PHP/IOP program, please fill out this form below:

Teen PHP/IOP Programs - Request Information

Feel free to have your child take our free online anxiety and depression quiz. These screening can help you assess whether depression or anxiety levels may be impacting your teen's daily life. While this test is not a diagnosis, it can provide insight into their symptoms and guide you toward the next steps in finding the right treatment.

Anxiety Quiz Depression Quiz

Best Mental Health Clinic in Illinois

Your teen deserves compassionate, expert care—and you deserve peace of mind knowing you’re not facing this alone. At Clarity Clinic, we provide comprehensive mental health services across Illinois, including specialized PHP/IOP programs for school refusal, anxiety, depression, and mood disorders. Whether you are looking for individual therapy, psychiatry services, TMS treatment, or a structured PHP/IOP program for teens, we’re here to guide your family toward healing and hope.

Mental Health Clinic Locations: Loop, River North, Lakeview Belmont, Lakeview Broadway, Evanston, Arlington Heights. (online therapy and telehealth visits are also available)

Take the first step today—contact Clarity Clinic, the trusted choice for mental health care in Illinois. Give our Evanston clinic a call at (312) 546-4193 or our Arlington Heights clinic a call at (847) 666-5339 to learn more about our teen PHP/IOP program.

Schedule a Teen PHP/IOP Consultation