What is Autism?

Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is "a developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and non verbal communication and social interaction, generally evident before age 3, that adversely affects a child's educational performance" (Gargiulo & Bouck, 2018, p. 590).

Characteristics of Autism

Social

Difficulty understanding other people's point of view
Impairment in reciprocal social interactions
Inability to maintain appropriate eye contact
Difficulty reading non-verbal cues

Academic

Difficulty understanding abstract ideas
Difficulty understanding sarcasm, idioms, and double meanings
Responds with anxiety to transitions
Often has impaired executive functioning skills

Able to visualize in 3D
Thinks outside of the box
Detail oriented
Honest
Strong sense of justice
Able to hyper focus
Often has a high IQ depending on level of functioning

Strengths

Physical

Hypotonia
Deficits in fine and gross motor skills
Poor prioperception

Affective

Bound by rigid thinking
Engages in repetitive behaviors
May exhibit flat or inappropriate facial expressions in response to emotional stimuli
May engage in "stimming" behaviors due to anxiety
- Hand-flapping
- rocking

Cognitive

30% experience cognitive deficits
10% demonstrate savant abilities
Poor prioperception

Levels of Severity

People with Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), can have mild, moderate or severe autism.
People with mild autism used to be diagnosed with Asperger's, but the most recent version pf the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) changed the diagnosis to Autism Spectrum Disorder.
People with moderate to severe ASD may be non-verbal, and usually require additional educational, vocational and self-care considerations.

Incidence

It is estimated that 1 in 54 children are on the autism spectrum.
- As many as 40% of people with ASD are non-verbal.

Educational

Implications

Less than 2/3 of students with ASD are educated in a mainstreamed classroom.
Students with ASD need a structured educational environment.
Behavior modification strategies can be helpful in classroom management when working with students with ASD.

Student Questions

Grades K-4:
- Do you want to see my Bionicles?
- What are the rules in class?
- What should I do if I feel bullied?
Grades 5-8:
- Can you remind me to hand in my homework?
- What do I do if things are too loud or bright in the classroom?
- Do I have to do group work?
Grades 9-12:
- Who can help me if I feel overwhelmed by an assignment?
- Is there a place in school where I can go to calm myself?
- Who can I talk to if I’m feeling anxious?

Parent Questions

Who do I talk to about getting an Individualized Education Plan for my child?
Are there transitional supports for after high school?
How do I get my child screened for ASD?
What therapies are available in school for my child?
Does a medical diagnosis of ASD qualify my child for services?
Who do I go to if i have concerns about my child's interactions with their peers?

Teacher Questions

Where do I get additional training for working with students with ASD?
What assistive technology do I have available to help me differentiate instruction for students with ASD?
What should I do if I have a student on the spectrum who is panicking?
What administrative and additional support do I have to help me support my students with ASD?
How can I model tolerance and inclusion in my classroom?