[By assistant professor of education, Vicki Caruana]
Autism is the third most common developmental disability (following intellectual disabilities and cerebral palsy). It is estimated that 1.5 million people in the United States today have autism.
What does this mean to those of us in the School of Education & Counseling?
Students with Autism are served most often in a general education classroom setting. Therefore, every new teacher we prepare will be working with students with autism during their student teaching and later as a beginning teacher. In what ways are we preparing them for this eventuality? One of the best things we can do is point students in the right direction and offer them resources that will help them hit the ground running when they begin to teach.
In this article I’ve delved into a free resource guide for teachers provided by The Autism Society. The guide, Building Our Future: Educating Students on the Spectrum, offers a great overview of the needs of students at all ages that are on the Autism spectrum.
Here are just a few highlights from this important resource:
- What Autism is and is NOT
- According to the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), how should students with Autism be served in schools
- Key Elements to create an appropriate educational environment for students with ASD
- 20 Suggestions to help you make learning easier for students with autism
- Addressing behavior issues
- Making adaptations to make learning easier for students with ASD
- Resources for more information
Many of the suggestions to work with students with ASD are good practice for every teacher. For example, the following suggestions will create a positive learning environment for every child and should be promoted throughout teacher preparation:
- Extend a welcoming environment
- Develop predictable routines
- Use visuals
- Build on areas of strengths and interests
- Use creative strategies
- Empower the student to be an active participant
Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome have gone “mainstream” at this point. Yes, students with ASD are in our classrooms, but ASD doesn’t disappear when a student graduates from high school. We have a number of students on the spectrum in the college environment as well.
Individuals with ASD have also found their way into popular media. The new television series “Alphas” on Syfy features a main character, Gary, offering insight into the everyday struggles and triumphs of someone on the Spectrum.
The more we know, the better able we will be to meet the needs of all students.
For more information about Autism, visit The Autism Society for valuable information, free resources and networking. For local resources, connect with The Autism Society of Colorado.
Vicki Caruana is an assistant professor of education at Regis University in Special Education, a former classroom teacher, and parent turned writer who seeks to educate and encourage kids and those who live and work with them to strive for excellence. She has a bachelor’s degree in Specific Learning Disabilities, a master’s degree in Gifted Education, a certificate in Educational Leadership, and will obtain her Ph.D. in Special Education in 2011. Her best-selling book “Apples & Chalkdust” has sold more than 600,000 copies! She has written more than 80 articles and 20 books and is a frequent guest on national radio and television programs. Vicki speaks at educational, parenting, homeschool and writers’ conferences. Vicki is also an educational spokesperson whose most recent client is Nintendo®. Her radio media tour reached more than 3,000,000 listeners nationwide.
Pingback: Teacher Education Faculty Spotlight – Dr. Vicki Caruana |