{"id":2738,"date":"2021-04-06T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-04-06T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.helpteaching.com\/blog\/?p=2738"},"modified":"2024-09-17T05:26:27","modified_gmt":"2024-09-17T09:26:27","slug":"7-things-to-remember-when-working-with-kids-with-autism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.helpteaching.com\/blog\/7-things-to-remember-when-working-with-kids-with-autism.html","title":{"rendered":"7 Things to Remember When Working with Kids with Autism"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.helpteaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/HT-Blog-images-16.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"552\" height=\"385\" src=\"https:\/\/www.helpteaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/HT-Blog-images-16.png\" alt=\"Working with Kids with Autism\" class=\"wp-image-4396\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.helpteaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/HT-Blog-images-16.png 552w, https:\/\/www.helpteaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/HT-Blog-images-16-300x209.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 552px) 100vw, 552px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>April is Autism Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about autism within the community. Learn more about working with kids with autism.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As autism rates have risen over the years, so has awareness. However, as parents of children with autism know, a lot of myths and misunderstandings still exist. Whether you&#8217;re a teacher, a principal, or someone who works in another capacity in the schools, it&#8217;s important that you avoid the myths and develop an accurate understanding of what autism is and what it looks like to work with kids with autism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1. Autism is a Spectrum<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of autism is that kids with autism are on a spectrum. There\u2019s a world of difference between kids with high-functioning autism versus low-functioning autism. Before assuming anything about a child with autism, learn where they are on the spectrum and what particular aspects of autism they demonstrate the most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Are they socially awkward?<\/li><li>Do they have trouble understanding non-literal language?<\/li><li>Do they lack basic communication skills?<\/li><li>Do they have tics?<\/li><li>Is it difficult for them to make eye contact?<\/li><li>Do they express emotions inappropriately?<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Not all children with autism will express all of these traits and some will express all of them and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2. Autism does not Signal a Lack of Intelligence<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many parents have sat through IEP (Individualized Education Plan) meetings where they listened to professionals discuss their child\u2019s lack of intelligence. For example, in a recent initial IEP meeting for a newly-diagnosed child with autism, the Child Study Team leader said, \u201cWe\u2019ll give him a series of tests to see where he is, but I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll be low.\u201d This assumption was made simply because the child had been diagnosed with autism. Imagine how surprised she was to learn that not only did the student not score low, but he was working above grade-level in multiple subject areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kids with autism may struggle academically, but often their struggles do not signal a lack of intelligence. Rather, they signal their struggle to adapt to the educational system. In many cases, kids with autism solve problems and communicate differently than what is expected. Sometimes teachers and other educational professionals think they got the answer wrong, when really they just thought about it differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>3. Autism Often Confuses Other Kids<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/sesame-street-and-autism\/id1021339430?mt=8\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"175\" height=\"175\" src=\"https:\/\/images.helpteaching.com\/sesamestreetautism.jpg\" alt=\"7 Things to Remember When Working with Kids WIth Autism Sesame Street App\" class=\"wp-image-2746\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Several years ago, Sesame Street introduced its first autistic character, Julia. While Julia represents a character to whom many children with autism relate, she also serves as a tool to help teach other kids how to interact with kids who have autism. Kids don\u2019t always know how to act around kids who are different or who don\u2019t do what\u2019s expected. Teachers can use models like Julia and other activities to help kids understand what autism is and how to interact with their peers who have autism. After all, everyone has differences. Some of those differences are just more noticeable than others.&nbsp; Learn more on this topic in \u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/www.gov.pe.ca\/photos\/original\/ed_autisminc.pdf\">Educating Children about Autism in an Inclusive Classroom<\/a>\u201d from the <strong>University of Prince Edward Island<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>4. Autism is Unpredictable<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One thing about working with kids with autism is that you are never quite sure how they will react. Sometimes, you\u2019ll expect them to react negatively to a loud concert and they\u2019ll be fine. Other times, you will think a certain activity will be easy for them and it will become a major challenge. When you work with kids with autism, you must be flexible. You must also learn to recognize their cues so you can adjust a situation to avoid making it a bigger problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>5. Autism Requires Predictability<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Imagine living every day without knowing what\u2019s going to happen. For kids with autism, that\u2019s often a reality. They are not always in control of their emotions and navigating life can be confusing. Surprises lurk around almost every corner. However, the adults in their lives can help limit those surprises by developing routines for them to follow. For some kids, just knowing the general schedule of the school day will help. For others, parents and teachers will need to develop a detailed schedule that includes the smallest of events, such as brushing their teeth and going to the bathroom. If the schedule is going to change for any reason, adults should also try to take time to warn the child about the change in advance. For example, a child expecting to do math at 10:15 may be upset if he goes out for early recess instead. Even though recess is fun, the disruption to his routine could outweigh that fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>6. Autism Requires Parents and Educators to Work as a Team<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Educators have a lot of students to focus on, but when working with a child with autism, it is essential they take the time to develop a relationship with the child\u2019s parents and work as a team to ensure they are working in that child\u2019s best interests. Educators should respect a parent\u2019s position as an expert on the child, while parents should respect an educator\u2019s professional expertise and observations in the classroom. Educators must also be careful not to criticize parents of autistic children for making decisions related to their child. They must also take into consideration the child\u2019s autism when making observations about the child\u2019s appearance or behavior. For example, a note home saying \u201cPlease ensure your child wears socks each day\u201d may seem innocent, but it may not take into consideration the fact that the parent is encouraging the child to become more independent in dressing himself and letting him go to school without socks when he forgets is part of that process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of the information above may overwhelm educators. \u201cI have 25 students in my class. How can I spend this much time on the needs of just one?\u201d At the end of the day, it\u2019s not that hard. Just as you get to know your other students, get to know your students who have autism. Learn their quirks. Get to know their personality. Focus on their diagnosis, but at the same time don\u2019t focus on their diagnosis. Just treat them as human beings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are lots of resources available to help educators work with children with autism. One of them is the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.autismspeaks.org\/family-services\/tool-kits\/school-community-tool-kit\">School Community Tool Kit<\/a> from Autism Speaks. It contains a wealth of resources, information sheets, worksheets, and activities to help the many different people in a school community understand autism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For educators looking for help with behavior modification, check out <a href=\"http:\/\/insightstobehavior.com\/\">Insights to Behavior<\/a>, a free resource full of activities to help educators create behavior plans for students, as well as find activities to help with some of the social and emotional challenges kids with autism face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can find additional books, videos, toys, and information sheets in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.autismspeaks.org\/family-services\/resource-library\">Autism Speaks Resource Library<\/a>. If you\u2019re looking for more educational resources, you may appreciate Help Teaching\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.helpteaching.com\/free-life-money-skills-worksheets.htm\">Life Skills<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.helpteaching.com\/free-study-skills-strategies-worksheets.htm\">Study Skills<\/a> worksheets or use Help Teaching\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.helpteaching.com\/create.htm\">Test Maker<\/a> platform to develop tests, quizzes, and worksheets that can meet the needs of your autistic students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Resources for working with kids with autism<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The internet is bristling with free resources to help teach your students with autism!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Kids Konnect<\/strong> has <a href=\"https:\/\/kidskonnect.com\/general\/world-autism-awareness-day\/\">World Autism Awareness Day Facts &amp; Worksheets<\/a><\/li><li><strong>Stages Learning Materials<\/strong> offers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stageslearning.com\/free-autism-learning-materials\/\">free autism resources<\/a> you can download, print, and use immediately<\/li><li><strong>Waterford.org<\/strong> has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.waterford.org\/education\/15-activities-teaching-strategies-and-resources-for-teaching-children-with-autism\/\">free activities, teaching strategies, and resources<\/a> for teaching children with autism<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Teachers and parents will benefit from professional development in this area:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/researchautism.org\/education\/teachers-corner\/\">Teacher\u2019s Corner<\/a> at the <strong>Organization for Autism Research<\/strong> is giving away resources to teach yourself about how you can better support students on the spectrum in your classroom.<\/li><li><strong>The Autism Society<\/strong> has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.autism-society.org\/about-the-autism-society\/publications\/resource-materials\/\">material<\/a> geared for school administrators, teachers and families<\/li><li>More programmers are turning their attention to the unique learning needs of kids on the autism spectrum. <strong>CommonSense.org<\/strong> has a list of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.commonsense.org\/education\/top-picks\/best-apps-for-kids-with-autism\">best apps for kids with autism<\/a><\/li><li>From kindergarten to college, students with autism spectrum disorder can soar with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.publicservicedegrees.org\/resources\/students-with-autism\/\">this guide<\/a> to academic resources, social support, and expert tips for school success produced by <strong>Student Training &amp; Education in Public Service<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Accredited Schools Online<\/strong> has a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.accreditedschoolsonline.org\/resources\/support-students-with-autism\/\">free guide<\/a> which discusses the unique difficulties autistic students face and how educators and families can respond to them<\/li><li>From music education to handwriting, snug vests, and even cruise vacations, the state of Oregon\u2019s <strong>Columbia Regional Program<\/strong> has compiled a list of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.crporegon.org\/cms\/lib\/OR01928264\/Centricity\/Domain\/45\/Best%20Web%20Resources%20for%20Autism.pdf\">Best Web Resources for Autism<\/a><\/li><li>The University of Louisville\u2019s <strong>Kentucky Autism Training Center<\/strong> has assembled and exhaustive <a href=\"https:\/\/louisville.edu\/education\/kyautismtraining\/professionals\/inst-resources-products\">list of instructional resources and products<\/a><\/li><li>The <strong>National Association of Special Education Teachers<\/strong> has a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naset.org\/index.php?id=autism2\">compendium of resources<\/a> for nearly every topic in autism education<\/li><li>A number of different approaches can be used to yield positive results when teaching students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, outlined <a href=\"https:\/\/online.sju.edu\/graduate\/masters-special-education\/resources\/articles\/techniques-for-teaching-students-with-autism-spectrum-disorder\">in this article<\/a> from <strong>St. Joseph\u2019s University<\/strong><\/li><li>The <strong>Indiana Resource Center for Autism<\/strong> at Indiana University\u2019s Institute on Disability and Community offers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iidc.indiana.edu\/irca\/articles\/teaching-tips-for-children-and-adults-with-autism.html\">Teaching Tips for Children and Adults with Autism<\/a><\/li><li>The <strong>Marcus Autism Center<\/strong> has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marcus.org\/autism-resources\">tools and tips<\/a> for helping you care for a child with autism<\/li><li>Here is a valuable <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/ncbddd\/autism\/links.html\">list of autism resources<\/a> compiled by the <strong>Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/strong><\/li><li>Books, worksheets, and videos for students with autism are <a href=\"https:\/\/asatonline.org\/for-parents\/becoming-a-savvy-consumer\/resources-for-kids\/\">selected by an astute 8th grader<\/a> from New Jersey in this list from the <strong>Association for Science in Autism Treatment<\/strong><\/li><li>The <strong>National Education Association<\/strong> has oodles of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nea.org\/resource-library\/teaching-students-autism-guide-educators\">resources<\/a> for educators<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>At-home learning<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>With students, teachers and families at home due to COVID-19, the Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador has pulled together some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.autism.nf.net\/home-slider\/resources-to-keep-busy-from-home\/\">resources to help you keep busy<\/a><\/li><li><strong>Missouri State University\u2019s Project Access <\/strong>offers <a href=\"https:\/\/education.missouristate.edu\/access\/ASDresources.htm\">COVID-19\/Coronavirus and Online\/Distance Learning Resources<\/a> to school district personnel who serve students with autism, and it also has a <a href=\"https:\/\/education.missouristate.edu\/Access\/familycorner.htm\">list of storybooks<\/a> by luminaries such as U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor read on video<\/li><li>Check out these <a href=\"https:\/\/uh.edu\/education\/remote-learning\/sparc-covid-19-resource.pdf\">Resources for Families of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder During COVID-19<\/a> from the <strong>University of Houston\u2019s School Psychology Autism Research Collaboration<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This is just a small sampling of the resources available to you as you face the challenge of teaching a student with autism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Image source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vecteezy.com\/vector-art\/110131-national-autism-awareness-month-vector\">Vecteezy<\/a><\/p>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Related Posts generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>April is Autism Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about autism within the community. Learn more about working with kids with autism. As autism rates have risen over the years, so has awareness. However, as parents of children [&hellip;]<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Related Posts generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[191,190],"tags":[171,58,146,24],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v16.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"When working with kids with autism, the first thing to know is that every child is unique. 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