2. Autism Spectrum Disorders By Latrica Kestner

3. What is Autism?  General term to describe complex developmental brain disorders known as Pervasive Developmental Disorders.  Pervasive Developmental Disorders include; Asperger’s Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder.  http://www.autismspeaks.org http://www.autismspeaks.org

4. Characteristics of Autism   LEARNING CHARACTERISTICS OF AUTISM   Concrete- difficulty thinking abstract (autistic children typically can’t pretend or imagine something that isn’t real or couldn’t really happen)   Over selectivity- cue in or attend to irrelevant detail miss the main point of task/activity   Lack of generalization- learn in one place, can’t do in another   Same content/same context- learn skill in one environment/place change aspect of place, can’t do task   Distractibility- easy to tune into something else   Visual/spatial- learn by seeing and doing rather than hearing; difficulty processing language   Ritualistic- learn pattern one way, hard to change   Motivation- Different from peers or what others would want

5. Classroom Strategies  Social stories  Visual Aides  Visual Schedules  Power Cards

6. Visual Schedule  Visual Schedules provide daily schedule in visual format to help with transitions.  http://www.child-autism-parent-cafe.com/bathroom- visual-picture-schedule.html http://www.child-autism-parent-cafe.com/bathroom- visual-picture-schedule.html http://www.child-autism-parent-cafe.com/bathroom- visual-picture-schedule.html

7. Visuals  Other types of visuals include;  Posted rules  To do checklists  Cards with visual cues

8. Social Stories  Can be utilized to present socially appropriate social behavior in form of a book.  Specific situations; ex: dentist visit, crossing the street, etc.

9. Example of Social Stories Social Story for Being A ‘Good Sport’ Social Story for Being A ‘Good Sport’ I like to play games. I like to play games. My favourite games are _______ My favourite games are _______ When we play ____________ one team will win, and one team will lose. When we play ____________ one team will win, and one team will lose. It will always be this way, unless both teams have the same number of points. It will always be this way, unless both teams have the same number of points. This is called a tie or draw. This is called a tie or draw. When my team wins a game, I feel very happy. Sometimes I dance, cheer or yell out. When my team wins a game, I feel very happy. Sometimes I dance, cheer or yell out. When my team loses, I feel sad. Sometimes I feel angry. When my team loses, I feel sad. Sometimes I feel angry. When my team loses, I will not hit, punch or yell mean things when I am angry. When my team loses, I will not hit, punch or yell mean things when I am angry. I will not stomp off the ground, throw things, swear or kick the ground. I will not stomp off the ground, throw things, swear or kick the ground. When I do these things, people will call me a ‘bad loser’. When I do these things, people will call me a ‘bad loser’. I will try to be happy for the other team when they win. I will try to be happy for the other team when they win. I will try to shake the winning team member’s hands and congratulate them, just as they congratulate me when my team wins. I will try to shake the winning team member’s hands and congratulate them, just as they congratulate me when my team wins. They worked hard to win, and they are happy! They worked hard to win, and they are happy! There will be other times when my team can win. There will be other times when my team can win. Being nice when my team loses is called being a ‘good sport’. Being nice when my team loses is called being a ‘good sport’. When I am a ‘good sport’ I will have fun playing games with my friends! When I am a ‘good sport’ I will have fun playing games with my friends! It will not matter who wins or loses. It will not matter who wins or loses. I know that I did my best. I know that I did my best.

10. Power Card The power card strategy is a visual aid that incorporates the child’s special interest in teaching appropriate social interactions including: routines routines behavior expectations behavior expectations the meaning of language the meaning of language the hidden curriculum. the hidden curriculum. The Power Card Strategy consists of presenting on a single sheet or in booklet form a short scenario, written in the first person, describing how the child’s hero solves a problem and a small card, the POWER CARD, which recaps how the child can use the same strategy to solve a similar problem himself.

11. Resources www.scautism.org www.scautism.org www.scautism.org www.autismspeaks.org www.autismspeaks.org www.autismspeaks.org www.futurehorizons-autism.com www.futurehorizons-autism.com www.futurehorizons-autism.com www.teacch.com/welcome.html www.teacch.com/welcome.html www.teacch.com/welcome.html www.paulakluth.com www.paulakluth.com www.paulakluth.com www.tonyatwood.com.au www.tonyatwood.com.au www.tonyatwood.com.au www.thegraycenter.org/ www.thegraycenter.org/ www.thegraycenter.org/