An Auburn School Training, October 2011

Why Are You Here? We have had students on the Autism Spectrum in our classrooms We will continue to have these students in increasing numbers We are responsible for their education We need the skills & insight necessary to help these students learn effectively!

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) 1 Out of 150 children in the US may be diagnosed with ASD Autism is growing at a rate of 10% - 17% per year Within the next decade, the number of Americans diagnosed with autism could reach 4 million

The Problem A person with ASD in an environment without ASD education = Risk poor adult outcomes Profound negative impact on the individual, families, schools, & communities $ Cost = 3.2 million per adult if not employed (Harvard Study Projection)

Problem Examples Students with ASD who are suspended for lack of social skills & related behaviors Students with ASD can become stressed from homework they cannot finish due to overload issues that may go misunderstood

…Problem Examples Students with ASD may be able to decode words, but have difficulty comprehending. Students with ASD who don’t understand peers’ language & behaviors; can lead to significant communication and social gaps with peers Students with ASD face sensory issues in one or all areas

Goals for Today Better understanding of what ASD may look like Better understanding of social & academic issues faced by students with ASD Know where to go for research based instructional strategies for addressing issues as they arise

Where to Find Additional Information on ASD Special Education Teachers here have useful handouts & books for behavioral strategies; Autism Cadre; Kelly Autism Program at WKU Textbooks, of course! Websites: autismspeaks.org & autismepicenter.com Movies & Literature Temple Grandin House Rules by Jodi Picoult

To Quote Temple Grandin: “ I am often asked what the single breakthrough was that enabled me to adapt to autism. There was no single breakthrough. It was a series of incremental steps.”