action for autism
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Action For Autism. What is Autism?. Autism is a brain disorder that typically affects a person’s ability to communicate, form relationships with others, and respond appropriately to the environment. What is Autism? Cont. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Action For AutismAction For Autism
What is Autism?What is Autism?
Autism is a brain disorder that Autism is a brain disorder that typically affects a person’s ability typically affects a person’s ability to communicate, form to communicate, form relationships with others, and relationships with others, and respond appropriately to the respond appropriately to the environmentenvironment
What is Autism?What is Autism? Cont.Cont.
Some people with autism are relatively high Some people with autism are relatively high functioning with speech and intelligence intactfunctioning with speech and intelligence intact
Some people are developmentally delayed Some people are developmentally delayed non-verbal, or have serious language delaysnon-verbal, or have serious language delays
Some people seem closed off and shut down, Some people seem closed off and shut down, while other seem locked into repetitive while other seem locked into repetitive behaviors and rigid patters of thinkingbehaviors and rigid patters of thinking
What is Autism?What is Autism? ContCont
Although people with autism do not Although people with autism do not
have exactly the same symptoms and deficits, have exactly the same symptoms and deficits, they tend to share certain social, they tend to share certain social, communication, motor, and sensory problems communication, motor, and sensory problems that affect their behavior in predictable ways.that affect their behavior in predictable ways.
Who Are The Kids With Who Are The Kids With Autism Spectrum Disorders ?Autism Spectrum Disorders ?
Three core areas of concern or Three core areas of concern or cardinal features for ASDcardinal features for ASDSocial impairment Social impairment Communication impairmentCommunication impairmentRestricted, repetitive behaviors and Restricted, repetitive behaviors and
interestsinterests
Autism is a Spectrum Disorder
Severe
Mild
Communication / Language
Social / Emotional
Cognitive /Intellectual ability
Perception /Sensory Regulation
Response to Stress
Rigidity / Inflexibility
Areas of concern
Other domains...
Look Again an Inside View Look Again an Inside View of Autism Spectrum of Autism Spectrum DisorderDisorder
We experience things holistically: We experience things holistically: The The sight, sound, smell, feel and emotional tone of a sight, sound, smell, feel and emotional tone of a situation hit us all at once. It’s hard to filter anything situation hit us all at once. It’s hard to filter anything out. Sometimes one sensation seems to trigger all our out. Sometimes one sensation seems to trigger all our other senses, making it difficult to tell where the real other senses, making it difficult to tell where the real signal came from. We may be alert to information signal came from. We may be alert to information others miss, but the task of processing and dealing others miss, but the task of processing and dealing with it can be overwhelming.with it can be overwhelming.
Look Again Cont.Look Again Cont.
We are visual learners with good We are visual learners with good memories.memories. We tend to notice and remember We tend to notice and remember visual details. Often this is very useful, but we visual details. Often this is very useful, but we may need help to separate what’s important may need help to separate what’s important from what is not. While others see larger from what is not. While others see larger patterns emerge from details, for us these are patterns emerge from details, for us these are like hidden pictures that stay hidden. The like hidden pictures that stay hidden. The unseen future is difficult to grasp.unseen future is difficult to grasp.
Look Again Cont.Look Again Cont.
We are straightforward and honest. We are straightforward and honest. We expect We expect people’s words and behavior to mean exactly what they seem, and not to people’s words and behavior to mean exactly what they seem, and not to have multiple or covert meanings. The language of emotions can prove have multiple or covert meanings. The language of emotions can prove especially tricky.especially tricky.
We have specialized interests. We have specialized interests. We avidly pursue and We avidly pursue and thoroughly enjoy what appeals to US, not just the latest style or fad.thoroughly enjoy what appeals to US, not just the latest style or fad.
We prefer routines. We prefer routines. Sudden changes are too unnerving. You Sudden changes are too unnerving. You
might say we’re traditionalistsmight say we’re traditionalists Our friends are very important to us. Our friends are very important to us. Being a friend Being a friend
takes a lot of effort and energy. Some people think we don’t care about takes a lot of effort and energy. Some people think we don’t care about
having a social life, but we do.having a social life, but we do.
Theory of MindTheory of Mind
Refers to the notion that persons with ASD do Refers to the notion that persons with ASD do not understand that others have their own not understand that others have their own plans, thoughts and points of viewplans, thoughts and points of view
People with ASD have difficultyPeople with ASD have difficulty
comprehending when others don’t know comprehending when others don’t know something.something.
People with ASD appear to be self centered, People with ASD appear to be self centered, eccentric, or uncaring eccentric, or uncaring
Theory of Mind Cont.Theory of Mind Cont.
Implications of lacking a theory of mindImplications of lacking a theory of mind Social skills are one of the most debilitating Social skills are one of the most debilitating
parts of the ASDparts of the ASD People have preferences for the knownPeople have preferences for the known People have difficulty choosing and prioritizingPeople have difficulty choosing and prioritizing People have a lack of compliancePeople have a lack of compliance People have difficulty with the hidden People have difficulty with the hidden
curriculumcurriculum
Hidden CurriculumHidden Curriculum
The things that……….The things that………. We shouldn’t have to be toldWe shouldn’t have to be told Are obvious to everyoneAre obvious to everyone Repeatedly get persons with autism in troubleRepeatedly get persons with autism in trouble Consists almost entirely of unwritten rules whose Consists almost entirely of unwritten rules whose
violations can make the child an outcastviolations can make the child an outcast Examples:Examples:
Getting into another person’s personal spaceGetting into another person’s personal space Swearing at the PrincipalSwearing at the Principal Talking about bathroom hygiene publiclyTalking about bathroom hygiene publicly
Strategies for Those Who Strategies for Those Who Lack a Theory of MindLack a Theory of Mind
Social StoriesSocial Stories Comic Strip ConversationsComic Strip Conversations Relaxation techniquesRelaxation techniques Visual CuesVisual Cues
Listing social rulesListing social rules Cue CardsCue Cards
Strategies for Those Who Strategies for Those Who Lack a Theory of Mind Cont.Lack a Theory of Mind Cont.
Break CardsBreak Cards
•• Teach Social ConventionsTeach Social Conventions
-appropriate conversations-appropriate conversations
-appropriate topics-appropriate topics
-appropriate sexual behaviors-appropriate sexual behaviors
Note:Note:
Do not expect “shaming, reasoning, or Do not expect “shaming, reasoning, or retributions” strategies to workretributions” strategies to work
The person will/may not understand the The person will/may not understand the consequences of their actions prior to the consequences of their actions prior to the action so they must learn through other waysaction so they must learn through other ways
““Theory of Mind” issues should be priority. Theory of Mind” issues should be priority. Without this basic understanding, the person is Without this basic understanding, the person is likely to continue to fail in social , community, likely to continue to fail in social , community, and family. and family.
How Does Autism Impact How Does Autism Impact Learning?Learning?
Limited social skillsLimited social skills Sensory over stimulation Sensory over stimulation Deficit in deciding what is relevant informationDeficit in deciding what is relevant information Struggle with transitionsStruggle with transitions InflexibleInflexible Poor organizational skillsPoor organizational skills
How Does Autism Impact How Does Autism Impact Learning? (cont.)Learning? (cont.)
Poor sequencing skillsPoor sequencing skills Poor generalization skillsPoor generalization skills Deficits in communicationDeficits in communication
How Do We Help?How Do We Help?
Arranging the Physical EnvironmentArranging the Physical Environment Providing Visual StructureProviding Visual Structure Utilizing SchedulesUtilizing Schedules Developing Personal Work SystemsDeveloping Personal Work Systems Recognizing Personalized Recognizing Personalized
Communication NeedsCommunication Needs
Visuals are nice for Visuals are nice for all children. all children.
For the person with ASDFor the person with ASD they are essential! they are essential!
What are Visual Supports?What are Visual Supports?
Those things that we see that enhance Those things that we see that enhance the communication processthe communication process
Visual supports capitalize on a person’s Visual supports capitalize on a person’s ability to gain information from their ability to gain information from their sense of sightsense of sight
Visuals are critical part of communicationVisuals are critical part of communication
Visual SupportsVisual Supports
Provide an opportunity for the child to Provide an opportunity for the child to engage his attention before the message engage his attention before the message disappearsdisappears
Build on the student’s strengths rather Build on the student’s strengths rather than place demands on weaknessthan place demands on weakness
Increase comprehension significantlyIncrease comprehension significantly
Benefits of Visual SupportsBenefits of Visual Supports
Create an orderliness to the environment which Create an orderliness to the environment which gives a sense of stabilitygives a sense of stability
Provide greater structure and predictabilityProvide greater structure and predictability Increase IndependenceIncrease Independence Cue behavior controlCue behavior control Increase student reliabilityIncrease student reliability Make it easier for everyone to find or Make it easier for everyone to find or
remember what they needremember what they need
Why Use Visual Supports?Why Use Visual Supports?
Students with ASD mayStudents with ASD may Hear information in bits, therefore not receiving the Hear information in bits, therefore not receiving the
whole messagewhole message May have a delayed response for processing May have a delayed response for processing
informationinformation May have difficulty filtering out extraneous noise and May have difficulty filtering out extraneous noise and
therefore have difficulty attendingtherefore have difficulty attending Visual information can exist for any length of timeVisual information can exist for any length of time
It is easier to focus when there is something at which to It is easier to focus when there is something at which to look.look.
“….my response to what people said to me would
often be delayed as my mind had to take time to
sort out what they had said.
The more stress I was under, the worse it became.”
Donna Williams
Nobody Nowhere
Individual Individual ScheduleSchedule
Individual SchedulesIndividual Schedules
The individual’s schedule visually tells The individual’s schedule visually tells the student:the student: Where am I to be?Where am I to be? What activity?What activity? What sequence?What sequence? What’s next?What’s next?
Benefits of a ScheduleBenefits of a Schedule
To provide a sequence of eventsTo provide a sequence of events To provide predictabilityTo provide predictability To support student understandingTo support student understanding To build flexibilityTo build flexibility To promote independence To promote independence To ease transitionsTo ease transitions To prepare for changeTo prepare for change
Schedules CanSchedules Can
Give information about their dayGive information about their day Help students see logic and order in their Help students see logic and order in their
environmentenvironment Serve as a tool to discuss and share daily Serve as a tool to discuss and share daily
eventsevents Help develop time conceptsHelp develop time concepts Teach sequences; first, thenTeach sequences; first, then Reduce or eliminate anxiety or stress related to Reduce or eliminate anxiety or stress related to
transition or changetransition or change Teach flexibilityTeach flexibility
Types of SchedulesTypes of Schedules
Transition objectTransition object Object SequenceObject Sequence Single Picture/PhotoSingle Picture/Photo Picture Cards with Written WordsPicture Cards with Written Words WrittenWritten
Creating Daily SchedulesCreating Daily Schedules
Identify and name each segment of the day Identify and name each segment of the day (lunch, seatwork, library, etc…)(lunch, seatwork, library, etc…)
Determine the level of communication (objects, Determine the level of communication (objects, photos, line drawings, written word)photos, line drawings, written word)
Define what the schedule need to convey, how Define what the schedule need to convey, how much information, details (does it need to tell much information, details (does it need to tell time, place, staff, materials?)time, place, staff, materials?)
Determine the formatDetermine the format Stationary (wall chart, mounted)Stationary (wall chart, mounted) Portable (folder, wallet, paper, clipboard)Portable (folder, wallet, paper, clipboard)
Remember in the World Remember in the World of Autism Spectrum of Autism Spectrum Disorders: “If I didn’t Disorders: “If I didn’t see it, you didn’t say see it, you didn’t say it.”it.”
Thank You Thank You
Have a great rest of the year!!!Have a great rest of the year!!!