Archive for April, 2010

An important aspect of the educational experience for a child with autism is the social interactions he or she will have with other students.  Creating, maintaining, and reinforcing relationships with other students is important for an autistic child.  Being able to interact with others in the classroom will help increase an autistic individual’s ability to function in society.

Here are a few techniques that educators can use to help foster relationships in the classroom:

1)    Find students who have similar interests as the autistic student and arrange the seating order so that they are near one another.  If each student has a similar interest, it may promote interaction.

2)    Identify students who are more receptive to the autistic child and encourage the receptive student to offer assistance.  Examples could include in-class assignment help, tutoring, pairing for projects, etc.  A student naturally inclined to be helpful can help foster classroom relationships.

3)    Be sure to incorporate lessons and activities into your weekly lesson plans that promote social interactions.  Each autistic child may respond differently to other students, instructions, or activities.  Having a regular session of social interaction, and monitoring how the autistic child responds, can help you refine techniques that can help the autistic student cultivate relationships.

These are just some of the techniques that can help foster friendships in the classroom.  Of course each child is different, so these techniques may need to be adjusted to match the personality of the child.

Individual Educational Plans, (IEPs) are extremely important tools for autistic children who require a different approach to education.  It’s vital for all people involved with a child’s education to adhere to the goals set forth in the IEP.

But it’s also important that the IEP is actually designed to benefit the child.  Below are three ways that you can help ensure that the child’s educational needs are being met.

1)    Tracking Progress—You must be able to measure IEP goals.  A popular method being used by educators today is called the “plotting method.”  The educator uses a chart, to track time and the results of tests, homework, projects, classroom participation, etc. After each assignment, the educator plots on the chart the result with the date.  As time goes on, there will be a series of dots.  If the dots move in a positive pattern, then it is a good indication that the IEP is working.  If the dots are moving in a negative pattern, then the IEP may need to be reevaluated.

2)    Working with other educators—If you find that the IEP is not producing desired results, or it is difficult to track results, it is important to keep in contact with all of the people involved with the IEP committee.  This includes the classroom teacher, principal, and a special education teacher.  These individuals must work together to analyze the IEP and revise it if necessary. Never be afraid to speak with the committee if you feel that there is an issue with the IEP.

3)    Managing the IEP—It is vital that you ensure that the IEP is being followed.  The student may interact with a number of educators throughout a school day.  If most of them disregard the IEP, then progress will be difficult to achieve.  You must make sure that all teachers understand, accept, and implement the IEP.

Hopefully, with these tips, you’ll be able to see positive results for your student’s IEP.  If there are any educators who would like to offer their own tips or suggestions, please feel free to leave a comment to this post.

They happen with all children, but sometimes, dealing with an autistic child having a meltdown can be an entirely different and more challenging experience. As an educator, you have the responsibility to keep order in your classroom while at the same time enforcing positive behavior in an autistic child. To help you manage meltdowns, here are a few tips:

1.) Make classroom rules clear, as this will help maintain structure. This is one of the first steps to preventing a meltdown.

2.) Should a meltdown happen, provide a quiet place for that student to go. This can be a trip to the bathroom with a classroom aide or a visit to a guidance counselor. Either way, just make sure the child has a quiet place that’s free of over stimulation.

3.) Be patient. Meltdowns will happen and you have to expect and prepare for them.

4.) Develop a plan of action with parents, classroom aides, and other administrators should a meltdown happen. Have a clear protocol to what must be done to calm the child and reinforce positive behavior inside and outside of the classroom.

5.) Minimize classroom chaos, noise, clutter, and other sensory overloads that could trigger meltdowns. Be conscious of the child’s sensitivity to certain stimuli.

6.) Meltdowns can sometimes occur as a result of change in schedule.  Be sure to anticipate the changes with backup plans that can help the child transition easily back into routine.

7.) Work with parents to get a sense of what triggers meltdowns at home and make changes to the classroom to adapt.

8.) Meltdowns can be triggered by anything that causes too much stimulation. Once a meltdown occurs, remove the child immediately from the situation and put him or her into a quiet place. Then, give the child something with a stimulating texture, like an interesting fidget (LINK TO SENSORY TOYS/FIDGET SECTION OF SITE), so that he or she may use it to trigger a calming effect.

9.) Track the cause of the meltdown.  Screaming, kicking, crying, silent seizures, migraine headaches, and loss of control of all behavior can occur. During an episode, a child with autism will not pay attention to his or her behavior, nor will he or she notice if that behavior compromises safety. While these episodes may have much momentum in the beginning, they will wind down. Remember to be patient and give the student time to let the episode pass while at the same time, noting what brought on the attack and what can be done to prevent it from happening again.

10.) Take time to refresh yourself on special education tactics and training. New strategies for dealing with meltdowns are always being developed and staying on top means that you can be prepared should something happen in your classroom.

For many parents, April is a time of hope. Since the 1970’s, the Autism Society has been celebrating the month of April as National Autism Awareness month, a time for educating the public about autism and issues within the autism community.

As the parent, friend, or family member of someone with autism, there are many things you can do throughout the month of April to support the cause and to raise awareness of this disorder. Show your support for someone you love in the autistic community by:

Supporting Legislation

The Keeping All Students Safe Act, Autism Treatment Acceleration Act, Achieving a Better Life Experience Act, and the Toxic Substances Control Act Reform can greatly change the way our nation supports autism. For more information about this legislation and to take action to support it, visit www.vote4autism.org.

Texting

To donate $10 to the Autism Society, simply text “AUTISM” to 50555 and 100% of your donations will be used to improve the lives of those affected by autism.

Reaching Out

Take time this month to reach out to other parents, especially those with newly diagnosed children. Help them by sharing information, experiences, and support.

Showing Gratitude

Your child’s support staff, teacher, speech therapist, and doctor have no doubt given you so much help throughout this journey. Show your support and thanks for all that they do by doing something nice for these special people. Let them know that they’re making a difference.

Finding a Mentor

Local college students and community agencies are always looking to mentor children with special needs. Connect your child with a helper or an aide so that both your child and his or her mentor can learn from each other.

Spreading the Word

Raise awareness of autism in your community by participating in or hosting events, fundraisers, school programs, and community outreach programs. Also, spread the word by wearing the ribbon, displaying your support of autism awareness on your car, or even by writing about it on the web. Your voice will be heard.