Objectives:

Understanding of what autism is

Identify characteristics
Gain knowledge from current research
Learn ways to best teach a student with ASD

Why I picked this topic:

I thought it would be good to teach about this topic because my major is special
education. In my job, I currently work with individuals that have autism. I teach
coworkers about autism and will possibility be continuing to teach future coworkers.

Materials: Powerpoint, lesson plan, puzzle sheets

Procedure:
1. Introduction
2. Define autism
3. Characteristics
- Intellectual Functioning
- Theory of Mind
- Social Interaction
- Communication
- Repetitive and Restrictive Behaviors
4. Possible causes
5. Suggestions for the classroom
6. Questions

Homework: Crossword puzzle

Write on board:
Vaccines
Theory of mind
Identical twins
Structured
Repeated
Joint attention
Sarcasm
Severe
Hippocampus
Pregnant
Three
Change
Tasks

2. Define Autism
- Autism also know as autism spectrum disorders or ASD
- Autism is diagnosed by a development delay in verbal and nonverbal communication
and social interaction.
- Usually these signs start before the age of three.
- This is not a single condition, its a spectrum of disorders.
- Severity has a huge range of different abilities. mild to sever
- No one is defined by their disability.

3. Characteristics - Intellectual functioning

- Intellectual functioning is the most commonly known characteristic.
- Many do have some degree of intellectual impairment. However research shows that
individuals with autism can have a full range of cognitive development.
- About 10% of individuals with autism demonstrate extraordinary skills and talents in
areas such as mathematics, memory feats, artistic or musical abilities, and reading.
3. Characteristics - Theory of mind
- Theory of mind is a hypothesis that attempts to explain the inability of the individual
with autism to realize that other people have their own unique point of view about the
world.
- Typically developing children appear to acquire this skill by age 4.

3. Characteristics - Social Interaction

- Individuals have troubles in social interaction such as
- identifying and using nonverbal behaviors,
- failure to develop age appropriate peer relationships,
- lack of spontaneous sharing, and
- absence of social or emotional mutual exchange.
- A common trait among individuals with autism spectrum disorders is joint attention.
Joint attention is the failure to respond to a gaze or pointing by another person.
- Difficulties with social interaction are often devastating to individuals with autism.
Even the highest functioning individuals have trouble developing friendships and
relating to others.

3. Characteristics - Communication
- It is estimated that 25 to 30 percent of children with ASD never develop language.
- Typical communication deficits include a
- delay in receptive and expressive language,
- improper use of pronouns,
- impairment in conversational skills, and
- stereotyped and repetitive use of language,
- in addition to echoing the speech of others.
3. Characteristics - Repetitive and Restrictive Behaviors
- Repetitive and restrictive behaviors are
- restricted pattern of interest to an abnormal degree,
- strict attachment to nonfunctional rituals or routines,
- stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms, and
- fixation with parts of objects.

4. Possible causes
- At the present time, the specific cause of autism spectrum disorders is unknown.
- Just as autism is a spectrum, theres a spectrum of causes.
- Vaccines do not cause autism.
- The original research study that suggested it was completely fraudulent.
- It was retracted from the journal Lancet, from which it was published and the
physician, Andrew Wakefield had his medical license taken away.
- The Institute of Medicine and the Centers for Disease Control have repeatedly
investigated this and there is no credible evidence that vaccines cause autism.
- However: At time of conception, a older aged dad has a higher chance for their baby
to have ASD.
- While a mom is pregnant exposure to certain things such as some medications can
increase the risk of autism as well.

4. Possible causes
- Genetics is a factor one research to that has proven it was done on identical twins,
fraternal twins, and siblings.
- This chart shows If one sibling has ASD what is the probability that another sibling will
also have it?
5. Suggestions for the classroom
- Autism Society of America states that effective instructional approaches are
structured, predictable, and geared to the persons level of functioning.
- No one strategy will be effective for every student but here are some suggestions.
- Avoid abstract ideas whenever possible.
- When abstract concepts must be used, use visual cues, such as gestures or
written words, to augment the abstract ideas.
- Avoid speech students might misinterpret.
- Most high-functioning people with autism spectrum disorders use and interpret
speech literally.
- Until you know the capabilities of the individual, it is recommended that you avoid
the ones that I have listedabove.
- Break down tasks.
- If a pupil is appearing to have trouble learning a task, break it down into smaller
steps, or present the task in several different ways (e.g., visually, verbally, and
physically).
- Assist students with organizational skills.
- In such cases, assistance should be provided in the least intrusive way possible.
- Strategies could include putting a picture of a pencil on the cover of the students
notebook or reminders at the end of the day of assignments that are to be
completed at home. Remember to praise the pupil when they remember.
- Prepare students for change.
- It is important to prepare the student for all unexpected changes, such as an
assembly, a substitute teacher, rescheduling of classes, and so forth.
- Use a written or visual schedule to prepare for change.
- Facilitate group work.
- If a class activity involves pairing off or choosing partners, draw numbers or use
some other means of pairing.
- The pupil with autism spectrum disorders is most often the individual left with no
partner. Which sucks because this student could benefit the most from having a
partner.