What is Autism?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological difference in how 1.5% of the population thinks and processes the world around them. This results in differences in communication and social skills along with repetitive or restrictive interests and behaviors.
While kids with autism may behave, communicate, interact, and learn differently than their peers- with the right supports in place for their individual needs, kids with autism can thrive at home, at school, and in the community. Parents and teachers may be overwhelmed if they suspect their child/student has autism, but there are many strategies and supports available to help in school and home settings.
Common Signs of Autism in Elementary Students
Communication:
Kids with autism may have a hard time starting conversations and communicating their wants and needs. Communication difficulty may cause frustration or behavioral outbursts.
Social Skills:
Kids with autism can struggle to pick up on nonverbal social cues such as facial expression or tone of voice. You may notice a lack of eye contact or turn taking in conversation.
Peer Interactions:
Some kids with ASD prefer to play on their own rather than with other children. Social skills such as sharing may need to be taught with the use of visuals or social stories.
Restricted/Repetitive Interests:
Kids with autism may have a special interest that they enjoy talking about. Some kids play with the same toys the same way every time. They may also repeat the same words or phrases over and over
Repetitive/Restricted Behaviors:
Many kids with autism will flap their hands or engage in some other “stimming” behavior to self-regulate. They may be sensitive to sensory stimuli such as lights or sounds.
Common Misconceptions
False: Everyone with autism has an intellectual/cognitive disability.
True: 1/3 of people with Autism also have an intellectual disability. 10% of people with autism have “remarkable” intelligence
False: It is impossible for people with autism to make friends or be social.
True: Children and adults with autism want friendship and companionship, but often struggle with social skills or knowing how to initiate interactions. Many kids with autism can learn how to maintain positive friendships.
False: Kids with autism can’t learn.
True: Kids with autism can learn. They may learn differently than their peers. Many kids may need accommodations or more specialized instruction to help them learn. They may also need specific instruction related to social, communication, and behavioral skills.
Identity and Acceptance
The neuro-diversity movement has recently advocated for more acceptance and representation of individuals with ASD. There is a shift from autism being seen as “missing a piece of the puzzle” or someone being “on the spectrum” to autism being a part of someone’s identity.
Some people prefer the infinity symbol rather than the ribbon or puzzle piece to represent autism. There is also an ongoing debate over person-first vs. disability-first language (“Jim is autistic” v. “Jim has Autism”). Either way, it is important to show your child/student respect. Autism is lifelong and will be part of their identity forever.
Inclusion & Self Advocacy
Students with ASD are included in general education with their non-disabled peers as much as possible; while some students are in self-contained settings or resource room settings for all or part of the day depending on educational needs.
Some students may also need support from a para-professional, special education teacher, speech pathologist, occupational therapist, or other service providers throughout their school day.
It is important for students with ASD to know how to advocate for themselves and know it is okay to ask a friend or teacher for help. Teaching self-advocacy should start at the elementary level.
I think my child/student has autism…..what’s next?
Medical Diagnosis: This involves a comprehensive evaluation from a doctor. There may be co-occurring diagnoses such as ADHD, seizures, OCD, or gastrointestinal issues. Medication or other therapies may be considered for some symptoms.
Special Education Evaluation: Autism Spectrum Disorder is one of the qualifying categories for Special Education services in Michigan. Either a teacher or parent can start the special education referral process if they suspect autism is impacting a student’s learning. If a student qualifies for an IEP (Individualized Education Plan), they may receive specialized instruction and/or accommodations to meet their specific needs.
**It is important to note that the medical diagnosis and school classification of autism are not the same, so some students with a medical diagnosis may not qualify under that same category at school.
Home Support: Agencies such as Community Mental Health connect families with resources to support individuals with ASD at home and in the community. Some kids may need additional behavioral support such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) or counseling. Involvement in activities like sports or scouts can also help kids have more opportunities to practice and generalize social skills.
Evidence-Based Practices for Elementary Learners with ASD
Social Stories: A social story is a written narrative or scenario, often paired with images, to help students prepare for social situations and know what to expect. For example “How to Order Lunch”or “Sharing Toys.”
Task Analysis: This can be used to break any multi-step task into more achievable steps, for example, a visual schedule for each subject at school or a chore chart at home.
Visuals: Due to the different language needs of some kids, especially those who are non-verbal, visuals with icons or pictures may aid communication.
First-Then Prompts: This gives positive reinforcement through a preferred task after a non-preferred task is complete (example : First math, then playdough).
Story by Chel Land for BlueWaterParent.com
All content of BlueWaterParent.com is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
