ASD AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

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ASDAUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

• Presentation by Louise Kleidon, Rosie Newman,
  Mark Postle Michelle Scouller

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What is ASD?

• Developmental disorder
• Majority are males 4 males to each female
• Very individualised
• Includes
• Autism
• Aspergers Syndrome (AS)
• Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise
  Specified (PDD-NOS)

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Characteristics of ASD

• Difficulty in social communication language
• Difficulty in social awareness and interaction
• Difficulty in imaginative play and flexibility

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Examples

• Emotionally distant from others including family,
  friends
• Need for certain rituals and routines
• Self-stimulating activities when child is
  distressed such as rocking, flapping
• Slow development of speech, echolalia
• Literal understanding of language
• Obsessive interests
• Overattention to detail

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Activity

• Rosie will now take you through an activity
  highlighting ways in which teachers can provide
  and inclusive education for students with ASD

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Scenario You are a new teacher at a school and
about to begin teaching year one. You are given
the following information about a student in your
class.
James is six years old and just completed
preschool. He is a well build boy, but appears
very clumsy when he runs. He communicates well
with adults and his parents but does not relate
well with his peers. Even when talking to adults
he is familar with he looks beyond them rather
than at them. James talks a great deal about his
favourite subjects, the planets. James casn tell
you about every moon of Jupiter or the rings of
Saturn, but finds it hard to answer questions
like, how do you think Spot felt when he fell in
the mud? James mother talks about severe
tantrums if his pictures of planets fall off the
wall or if his pencils are moved from their
right place. She is very concerned about James
diet as he eats only chips, milk, nuggets and
bananas. He is also affected by loud noises and
will flinch if children near him shout or call
out to each other.
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Each group is to write strategies they have seen
or used either personally or know of with dealing
and managing students with Autism that would help
in this situation. The following slides contain
the outcomes of this activity completed in the
tute. The strategies and ideas are grouped
together and are as follows
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Managing Behaviour. Strategies used by teachers
to help maintain positive behaviour from Autistic
children.

• Clear and concise speech.
• Topics of interest
• Pre-warn of any changes to the timetable.
• Praise good work often.
• Dont use sarcasm/ mocking.
• Start with small goals / short term goals.
• Discussions with the students to develop
  behaviour strategies.
• Evacuation procedure. (As mentioned in the
  Autism lecture).

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Communication. How would you relate to the child
with Autism. Any strategies you know of that help
maintain relationships between the teacher, James
and his parents.

• Develop a curriculum based around planets.
• Educate other students about others belongings
  and not touching.
• Develop a system with the classroom about noise
  levels.
• Develop a diet plan for James.
• Set and enforce standards/ expectations.
• Make students aware of James disorder.
• Communication book KIT involving parents.
• Peer tutoring.
• No Frills directives.
• Social skills developed through associated
  instructions.

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Social skills. Activities/ Strategies used to
develop social skills of Autistic child and peers.

• Quiet activities.
• Individual work for team/ class project. ( Every
  activity is a social activity).
• Visual cards and cues.
• Time out corner/ thinking chair.
• Role plays.
• Thinking songs/ music.
• Ignore child with negative behaviour.
• Learning experiences involving real life things
  relating to life skills.

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Classroom Organisation. How would you structure
and organise your classroom so that all students
are catered for.

• Time out involving space theme.
• Activities based on planets.
• Structuring daily plan.
• Contact for James Individualised to his needs.
• Hand eye coordination activities.
• Include computer access for James.
• Allow James to work with peers he knows and
  trusts.

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Implications for Curriculum Design

• Success for the teacher and student is most
  likely to occur if the teacher is aware that the
  students has difficulty with
• Following directions
• Organising, sequencing and changing routines

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Implications for Curriculum Design

• Not having established routines
• Focusing on relevant information
• Staying on task and/or paying attention to
  anything other than particular interest
• Appropriate social interactions and
  communications
• Judgement, reasoning and expectations

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Implications for Curriculum Delivery

• Teachers may have to
• Organise their classroom differently
• Provide large, clear, colour-coded timetables
• Provide lots of visual cues

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Implications for Curriculum Delivery

• Provide a quiet area
• Deal with behaviour management, stress
  management, relaxation techniques
• Write what to do stories
• Have a buddy system
• UNDERSTAND THE DISORDER AND THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF
  THE CHILD

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Resources for Parents and Carers

• Attwood, T. (1998) Aspergers Syndrome A guide
  for parents and professionals, Jessica Kingsley
  Publishers, London
• Myles, B.S. Simpson, R.L. (1998), Asperger
  Syndrome A guide for Educators Parents,
  PRO-ED, Inc, Texas
• Quill, K.A. (1995), Teaching Children with Autism
  Strategies to Enhance Communication
  Socialisation, Delmar Publishers Inc, New York
• Santomauro, J. (2002), A Special Student,
  Brisbane, QLD

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Resources for Children

• Gorrod, L. (1997), My brother is different, The
  National Autistic Society, London
• Gottlieb, E. (1997), The Boy Who Went Away, St
  Martins Press, New York
• Ives, M. (1999), What is Aspergers Syndrome and
  how will it affect me? The National Autistic
  Society, London
• Santomauro, J. (1999), The mystery of a special
  kid, Brisbane, Author

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Websites

• Autism Spectrum Disorders
• http//www.geocities.com/Heartland/Fields/6979/aut
  igen2.htm
• Autism Research Institute
• www.autism.com/ari
• The National Association for Autism in Australia
• www.autismaus.com.au
• Asperger Australia
• www.ozemail.com.au/rbmitch/Asperger2.htm