Autism

1. Autism Quick Cooking for a Five Star Educator

2. What to Expect During this Presentation? • Introduction to the SKACD # 613 Autism team • What autism is and what it looks like • Causes and interventions for autism • Specifics on what teachers can do in their classrooms • Referrals and resources • Less than one hour!

3. SKACD #613 Autism Team • Katherine Siler- School Psychologist • Chateece Rickard- InterRelated Teacher • Linda Snow- Early Childhood Spec. Ed. • Mary Chappell- School Psychologist • Juli Doan- InterRelated Teacher • Amy Harvey- Occupational Therapist • Lori Chambers- Speech Pathologist Handout

4. Educators Choose to be Chefs or Cooks!

5. Myth or Fact? Children with autism must be taught to make eye contact in order to learn. Children with autism prefer to be left alone and are not usually interested in friendships. Parenting styles can lead to autism. Children with autism do not learn from others in their environment. Autism is such a complex and severe disorder that little can be done to help children with autism and their families.

6. Myth or Fact • Children with autism must be taught to make eye contact in order to learn. • Children with autism prefer to be left alone and are not usually interested in friendships. • Parenting styles can lead to autism. • Children with autism do not learn from others in their environment. • Autism is such a complex and severe disorder that little can be done to help children with autism and their families. • NO! Children with autism do not have to be looking at you to learn. • NO! Children do want friendships! They do not have the social skills to develop and maintain healthy relationships. • NO! Autism is a neurological disorder. It has nothing to do with parenting styles. • NO! They do learn from others in their environment, they just respond differently. • NO! Intervention and support do make a difference!

7. Autism is a neurological disorder that typically appears by 3 years of age. The symptoms of autism involve three major areas of development and impact a child’s abilities to: Take part in social interaction Communicate with others in age appropriate ways Participate in activities and behaviors typical of the child’s age and stage of development What is Autism? Handout

8. Statistic According to the Centers for Disease Control, one out of every 166 people are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.

9. Autism PDD-NOS Childhood Disintegrative Disorder Asperger’s Rett’s Disorder Autism Spectrum Disorders 5 Pervasive Developmental Disorders: Handout

10. Characteristics in Autism • Challenges with Social Interactions • Nonverbal language • Pretend play • Poor eye gaze • Controlling emotions and anxiety Handout

11. Characteristics • Communication Challenges • Delayed in expressive and receptive language • Literal understanding of speech • Echolalia

12. Characteristics • Behavior Differences • Intense or restricted interests • Unusual repetitive behavior • Difficulty with transitions • Possible aggressive disruptive behaviors • Refusal to participate in some activities, particularly fine motor activities • Sensory driven behaviors

13. Impairments in Socialization Appears withdrawn Passive Active but Odd Difficulty making friends Impairments in Communication Non-verbal Gestures / motoric Verbal Uneven expressive / receptive language Stereotypical Behaviors Simple Complex Restrictive, repetitive nature Continuum Handout

14. Cognitive Skills Severe Mental Retardation Gifted Measured Intelligence Sensory Hyposensitive Hypersensitive Varies in intensity and manifestation over time Motor Skills Awkward / Uncoordinated Agile / Coordinated Continuum

15. How to be a 5 Chef

16. Remember--- Visual is a strength

17. Visual Is A Strength Adaptations: Visual cues for rules Visual Schedules Visual Boundaries Handout

18. More Visual Adaptations Give examples of finished product Color Coding Remove extra materials Start / finish baskets or folders Teach left to right and top to bottom progression

19. Social Stories • Each story is designed to teach children how to manage their own behavior during a specific social situation. • Social stories are helpful because they are presented visually. Handout

20. Sensory • Sensory adaptations help students organize their brains to focus • Sitting on alternative surfaces • Fidget items • Auditory • Movement outside of class • Oral Handout

21. Crisis - What Do We Do?

22. Strategies for Crisis • Back off – this is NOT a teaching moment • Don’t take it personally • Sometimes Ignore (Choose your battles) • Use visual cues • Talk low, talk slow • Stay cool • Get the student moving • Watch your own body language • Try to keep your sense of humor and STAY SAFE Handout

23. Gourmet Teacher Tips • Preparing your classroom • Rubrics for behavior • Assistive Technology Team Handout

24. For Previously identified Special Ed. students: For Initial Referral: Contact student’s special ed. teacher School Psych. Referral Follow your building’s procedure for general ed. intervention CaseManager from SKACDAutism Team will be assigned to support staff I Have Concerns! What Do I Do?

25. Ten Things Every child with autism wishes you knew!

26. I am a child with autism. I am not “autistic.” Please remember to distinguish between won’t (I choose not to) and can’t (I’m not able to). Be patient with my limited vocabulary. Focus and build on what I can do rather than what I can’t do. I am a concrete thinker. Because language is so difficult for me, I am very visually oriented. When I feel included, everyone in the classroom can learn and grow. My sensory perceptions are disordered. Help me with social interactions. Try to identify what triggers my meltdowns.

27. Are You a Chef or a Cook?