What is Autism?

Max's Spice 2 class did a presentation for the teachers at his school to help them understand more about Autism. Max's special needs teacher is an amazing lady. She does so much for the her classes at Max's school. WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE  HER.
Here is the outline of the presentation.

WHAT IS AUTISM?
Autism is a developmental disorder that impairs the ability to communicate and interact with others.
Just to clarify a few things, What we are explaining is NOT a disease.
As explained in the previous slide, Autism is DISABILITY!
Each person with Autism id different in some way.

What is SPICE?
S- Social
P-Pragmatics
I-Independence
C- Communication
E- Emotional Regulation

SPICE teachers students with Autism and other mental disabilities how to operate in Social environments, manage their emotions, work on organizational/executive functioning skills and focuses on learning independent living skills.

DID YOU KNOW?!
 -  The creator of Pokemon had Autism?
 -  Satoshi Tajiri
 -  Guess who else?
 -  Dan Harmon
 -  Susan Boyle
 - Temple Grandin

SOMETIMES STUDENTS WITH AUTISM GET STRESSED EASILY...
Homework overload.
Hard to understand directions.
New Surrounding. (New Class, New School)
Fire Drills/Lock-downs
Test Taking
Getting to school later than usual (road closures, rush hour).
Not getting work down on time.

-NOTE TAKING-
Let's say someone is taking notes and they are
 falling behind the rest of the class.
What is a way that they can stay on track while taking notes?

- Use Chromebook for notes. (Google Docs)
- Give copy of notes ahead of time
- use fill in the blank notes
- Post notes on Google Classroom

-UNCLEAR DIRECTIONS-
Give clear and slow directions.
Clarify and /or repeat directions.
Give a written directions.
Have a peer repeat and clarity the directions to them.
Check for understanding.

MORE THINGS THAT MIGHT CAUSE STRESS
New events on a schedule either in class, personally,
 or any event on campus at school.(Pep Assemblies,
Field trips, Doctors appointments, Etc).
 Presenting a project in front of a class.
     (Stage Fright)
Trying to keep up with the class while taking notes.
Reading aloud in class.
Silence at times.
Being called out in class.

WHAT TO DO TO HELP WITH HOMEWORK OVERLOAD
Less homework problems/questions.
Do not give homework every single day.
Allow homework completion in class,
give the last 10 minutes of class to start working, that way,
questions can be answered if the students have them.
One specific due date for all homework assignments
(Example: All homework due by Thursdays).

TEST TAKING
Multiple Choice Questions - Less Choices
Provide word blanks.
study guides given ahead of time.
Able to test in another room (small group testing)
Have the test read aloud.

IF THERE IS A FIRE DRILLS / LOCK DOWNS
Don't tell students when fire drills / lock downs are.
Give out specific jobs

HOW TO HELP WITH A SCHOOL PROJECT.
Explain the directions on how to complete the project.
Give specific roles so your group can succeed.
Assign an appropriate peer partner.
     To promote and help with social skills,
communication skills and organizational skills.
Chunk large projects.
     Give due dates for chunk projects
Allow alternative way to present the project.
     One on one, not in front of the entire class,
before school or after school, etc. 

INFORMATION OVERLOAD
Simplify directions.
Say the information clearer
chunking information
Focus on specific topics.

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, each person with Autism is different.
If you've met one person with Autism,
you've truly only met one person with Autism.

HAVE RESPECT
HAVE COMPASSION
BUT MOST OF IMPORTANTLY, HAVE PATIENCE.