Autism

(A “spectrum disorder” that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees) Ø Ability to communicate and interact with others is affected Ø Lack of or delay in spoken language Ø Repetitive use of language and/or motor mannerisms (e.g. hand-flapping, twirling objects) Ø Little or no eye contact Ø Lack of interest in peer relationships Ø Lack of spontaneous or make believe play Ø Persistent fixation on parts of objects Ø No real fears of danger Ø Insistence on sameness Ø Tantrums Ø Unresponsive to normal teaching methods Ø Obsessive attachment to objects Ø Apparent over-sensitivity or under-sensitivity to pain Ø Uneven gross/fine motor skills Ø Seizures Ø Non-responsive to verbal cues; acts as if deaf, although hearing tests in the normal range Source - [|www.autismsociety.org] 19 April 2010
 * __ Autism __**
 * //Possible Characteristics//**

Ø Teach tasks as a series of simple steps Ø Actively engage the student’s attention in highly structured activities Ø Provide regular reinforcement of positive behavior Ø Avoid distractions – if possible, have separate areas for individual and group work, separated by boundaries Ø Provide instruction in an organized manner Ø Encourage, but do not force, socialization with peers Ø Provide visuals – daily schedules, label areas of the room, list of class rules, labeled storage cubbies Ø 3-step prompting series – (1) present the discriminative stimulus (i.e. an instruction from the teacher, (2) prompt the correct response, (3) reinforce the correct behavior Ø Provide for dealing with any sensory issues the student may have Source - [|www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/autism.html] 19 April 2010 and [|www.autism4teachers.com] 19 April 2010
 * //Teaching Implications//**