Reaching Students with Autism Through the Arts: Implications for Inclusive Arts Classrooms

1. Reaching Students with Autism Through the Arts: Implications for Inclusive Arts Classrooms Ryan Hourigan Ph. D. Ball State University

2. 7 Jumps!!! Everyone stand up!!

3. My Background • Ball State University • 11 years in K-12 Music • The Prism Project • Research • Learning conditions and children with autism • Personal background

4. Overview for Today What is Autism? Communication and Children with Autism Cognition Challenges for Children with Autism Break Emotional Challenges and Children with Autism Sensory Challenges and Children with Autism Socialization Strategies for Students with Autism Conclusion and Questions

5. What is Autism? “autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others” More often in boys than girls Autism Society of America, 2012

6. Characteristics of Autism Communication challenges Restrictive or repetitive behaviors Struggle with socialization Limited joint attention Inability to read or understand body gestures or facial expressions Sensory sensitivity

7. Spectrum • Autism is a spectrum disorder • Each individual is different • I have never worked with a two children on the spectrum that are the same • Use of the word “spectrum”

8. Pervasive Developmental Disorders Autism Pervasive Developmental Disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) Asperger’s Syndrome Rett Syndrome Childhood Disintegrative Disorder American Psychological Association

9. Twice Exceptional • Many children with autism are twice exceptional • Diagnosed as Intellectually gifted as well as on the Autism Spectrum

10. Person-first Language People do not want to be know by their diagnosis Dignity and personhood

11. PL 94-142 or IDEA • Six Basic Principles • FAPE (Free and Appropriate Education) • Nondiscriminatory evaluations • LRE (Least Restrictive Environment) • IEP • Parents have rights • Due Process • Amended several times since (86,90,97,&04)

12. Inclusion Philosophy • Mainstreaming (older term) • The inclusion of students with special needs into general education for a portion of the school day (Lewis & Doorlag, 2006, p. 424) • Inclusion • “Meaningful participation of students with special needs in general education classrooms” (Lewis & Doorlag, 2006, p. 424)

13. Inclusion Theory • Culturally Responsive Classrooms • “Support of children and accepting of difference” • “Difference is part of the learning environment” (Banks et. Al, 2005)

14. Communication and Children with Autism Autism is characterized by severe disturbances in communication skills.

15. Communication • Areas of concern for students with autism • Receptive Language • Expressive Language • Cognitive Functioning • Echolalia • Eye Contact Joint Attention

16. Eye Contact/Joint Attention • Challenges for children with autism • Joint Attention • Eye Gaze • Echolalia • Speculations as to the cause

17. Receptive Language Receptive Language Receptive language refers to the ability of a student to receive and process/decode information.

18. Cognition (as it relates to communication and autism) Receive through sensory receptors (i.e. ears, eyes, etc.) Understand and Process Information Commit to Long Term Memory Express Understanding

19. Expressive Language Expressive languageis defined as the ability to use symbols of language to express thoughts (Lewis & Doorlag, 2006) Expressive Language

20. Expressive LanguagePECS (Boardmaker)

21. Adaptations and Accommodations for Arts Educators • Provide simple clear instructions. May need to provide individual instructions for a specific student. • Allow for longer processing time • Partner written instructions with modeling (either by a peer or teacher). • Establish a communication journal between you, the other classroom teachers, the special education team, and the parents (if possible).

22. Adaptations and Accommodations for Arts Educators • Utilize digital video and audio recordings for students to bring home and practice tasks and executive skills • Write instructions to go with the video • Write down instructions as well as express verbally (for high-functioning students) • Allow for materials/equipment access outside of class (e.g. lunch./recess/after school) to practice • Peer support (included students)

23. “Ish” From the Prism Project

24. Reflective Question (with a partner) • Discuss the following question with a partner near you: • How could you incorporate one of the communication ideas or strategies mentioned in this segment in your work with students on the autism spectrum?

25. Cognitive Challenges and Children with Autism

26. Cognition • The ability of a student to receive, process, and commit information to memory (Davis, Gfeller, and Thaut, 1999)

27. Cognitive Domain

28. Other Cognitive Challenges for People with Autism • Weak Central Coherence/Central Coherence Theory • Children with autism have a tendency to focus on the local rather than the global aspects of an object of interest. • Joshua example (church organs)

29. Other Cognitive Challenges • Theory of Mind • Some people with autism have trouble predicting another person’s actions or intent by assuming their beliefs or state of mind. • Tone of voice • Often cannot get past their own state of mind • Often cannot understand looks, glances, figures of speech, tone of voice, etc. • Might need to be decoded

30. Other Cognitive Challenges • Executive Function • Multi-step directions • Processing Delays • Remembering them from day to day • Motor planning and fine motor issues • UDL Principle II- Students with autism navigate the learning environment differently

31. Adaptations and Accommodations for Arts Educators • Self-assess your delivery of material • Videotape your lessons • Are there ways to make the cognitive process easier for the the student (e.g. pace, modeling, directions, tasks)? • Are there interruptions in the cognitive process (e.g. receive, process, commit to memory)? • If so, how might I change my lesson plan?

32. Teaching Strategies for Arts Educators • Allow for pull out time with a peer or team teacher to reinforce understanding • With a task analysis (see previous) • The Affective Domain part of what we do as artists may not be easily accessible: • Emotions, language, intent, non-verbal expression may need a literal explanation • Joshua “sad crying or happy crying” example

33. Other Teaching Strategies for Arts Educators • Task Analysis • Take an activity that you teach and break it down into its smallest steps

34. Task Analysis Video Example

35. Reflective Discussion Say hello to a new partner this time… Based on the information that was given, reflect on one aspect of your teaching that could be accommodated for children with autism who have cognitive challenges. Discuss this change with your partner.

36. Break Time!!! 10 Minutes

37. Emotional Challenges for Children with Autism

38. Emotional Challenges • Typical cause of behavior outbursts • Frustration • Anxiety • Fear • Impulse control • Children with autism often have self-regulation challenges as well

39. Meltdowns/Outbursts • Typical causes: • Communication disruptions • Disruption in routine • Regulating the emotions attached to above (UDL Principle III)

40. Strategies for Arts Educators(Questions to ask yourself) If trying to curb a behavior that is disruptive, think of the following questions: • Is there an antecedent to the behavior? • Speak with classroom teachers/parents • Is the behavior due to impulse control or attention issues? • Could sequence of lesson be changed? • Is the behavior interrupting the learning of other students in your classroom? • If so, action must be taken. Seek assistance

41. Teaching Strategies for Arts Educators • Establish a clear routine for learning. • Be aware of anxiety with concerts, festivals, trips, and special events. This may lead to new behaviors. • See task analysis. • Rehearse the trip, festival, etc. • Understand the impulsivity of materials such as paint, drums, and other equipment. Plan in advance. • Try to praise appropriate behavior as well as ignore inappropriate behavior. • Attempt to use positive reinforcement (i.e. earning privileges) rather than negative (see next two slides). • Be aware of students who are introverted. Consult counseling staff when you have questions. These students may need assistance with socialization.

42. Personal Behavior Checklist 5 Days of no “x”s = ??? 4 Days of no “x”s = ??? Etc.

43. Positive Individualized Behavior Plan Move up: Move down:

44. Scenario #1 • You are teaching a lesson on ballroom dance. In the first lesson, you try to match students with their partners. While you are doing this, Toby puts his hands over his hears a yells “No way, I am not touching her!!”. You try to calm him down and reason with him. In order to avoid the activity, Toby attempts to run out of the room. • With your group, discuss the steps you would take to curb this behavior in the future with Toby.

45. The Result for the Prism Project-Toby

46. Sensory Challenges for People with Autism

47. Areas of Sensory Concerns Tactile Sensitivity (touch) Visual Sensitivity Aural Sensitivity

48. OTHER SENSORY ISSUES You may not have thought of… • Vestibular Sensory Issues • Balance and movement • Proprioceptive • Body position

49. Sensory Integration Disorder • Often occurs in many persons with Autism • Seeking sensory input • Hyper/hypo • Contributes to the issues previously (e.g. behavior)

50. Sensory Considerations for Arts Educators • Be understanding when it comes to devices such as fidgets, weighted vests, and other sensory needs. These may be needed to regulate sensory needs.