Autism Spectrum Disorders

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Autism Spectrum Disorders
Talking to Kids about Autism Spectrum Disorders
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Lets Talk

• Think about something you are really good at
  possibly a special gift.
• Is there a time when you helped someone else to
  do what you are good at sharing your gift with
  others

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• Now think about something that is really hard for
  you to do

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Its important to know that

• We all have special gifts and we all have special
  struggles
• There are kids who struggle to
• Learn how to play in ways that most kids play
• Learn how to have conversations with friends

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• Having these struggles is called having
• Autism Spectrum Differences or Autism

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A Spectrum Disorder

• Autism is a spectrum disorder which means some
  people with autism can be very different or just
  a little different in how they struggle with
  play, conversation, learning, etc.
• No two individuals with autism look or act the
  same.

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Some facts about autism

• Autism is a lifelong neuro-developmental
  disability ( a different way of processing
  information in the brain)
• Autism is a developmental disability that affects
  a childs communication, social interaction
  skills, and patterns of behavior.
• Variance in characteristics and levels of
  functioning.

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A person with autism may experience difficulties

• explaining their own behavior emotional state
• predicting events reactions of others to their
  behavior
• predicting reacting to the behavior of others
• understanding the intentions perspectives of
  others
• understanding things that are not black white
• understanding proximity rules

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Facts about autism continued

• Can be very different or just a little different
  in how they learn, play and interact with peers
• Cannot give other autism, like spreading a cold
• Often have a nervous system that works
  differentlythis makes their senses work
  differently
• Some individuals have something called AS or
  Asperger Syndrome it is similar to Autism

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Kids with autism have special gifts too-everybody
does!!!

• Different Like Me My Book of Autism Heroes
• Sometimes the gifts are easy to see, sometimes
  the gifts will only be discovered if you make a
  special effort.

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Learning More about our Classmate

• Book This is Autism
• Special gifts and struggles
• Questions???????

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You Now Know Some Things That Most Grownups Dont
Know!!!

• Many of the special struggles and special gifts
  that can be found in people with autism
• Kids who find it easy to play and have friendly
  conversations can share their special gifts with
  people with Autism
• How to be a friend to a classmate with Autism

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10 Tips for Being a Friend to a Classmate with
Autism

• Take time to say hi whenever you see them.
  Even if you are in a hurry and pass them in the
  hall, just say hi.
• Say something to them when they do good things.
  You can cheer, give high 5s, or just tell them
  great work. They like to be complimented too.
• Treat them like anyone else, and talk to them
  like you would talk to another one of your
  friends. Dont be too formal and dont talk to
  them like they are a little kid.

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• Be considerate of the child with autisms
  feelings. They dont always understand teasing.
  If other kids tease them, pull the other kid
  aside and tell him/her to stop.
• Explain to other kids that weird behavior isnt
  the childs fault its may just be part of
  having autism.
• Try not to get mad at them for something they do
  that bothers you, or something they dont do that
  they should. Tell them what they could do that
  would work better.

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• Encourage them to try new things because
  sometimes theyre afraid to try new stuff.
• Dont be afraid to ask them to do something.
  They are neat kids and can do a lot of things.
• Find something to like about the student with
  autism. Often these kids have special interests
  or talents that they are willing to share with
  you or are really good at.
• Its OK to get frustrated with them sometimes, or
  to want to play alone or with somebody else
  sometimes. We need to do that with our other
  friends, too.

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Make a plan

• Share one thing you could do to be a friend to a
  classmate with Autism.