Understanding+Autism

__**Understanding Autism**__

Autism prevents Children and adolescents from interacting normally in the class room with peers and affects almost all parts of their social and educational lives. There are many different characteristics of Autism varying in intensity from mild to very severe. Some of the typical symptoms are, repetitious behavior such as rocking back and forth, headbanging or touching and twirling objects. Some children with Autism are extremely sensitive in their sense of touch, smell, taste and hearing. Other signs of Autism include poor use of body language, lack of affection, and the throwing of tantrums. A small population of those with Autism are extremely talented in one area such as music, math, or art. These people are referred to as having Savant Syndrome. These people are extremely brilliant in one or many fields and posses an incredible memory. Most autistic people think visually, using nouns to teach them is a wonderful way to gain ground in their learning process. This is because with nouns they can relate the words to images. Demonstrations from the teacher are very helpful as well because they can incorporate the teachers actions and put them into words. Many autistic individuals have fixations on certain things, for instance if a child loves trains the teacher can incorporate trains into reading books on trains. Always reinforce the student because they need it, and when they are right with their answers reward them to keep them motivated. Most autistic children can grasp how to use computers as well as make art, developing these talents can lead to moving towards higher education. A great way to reach children with autism is through the use of technology. A child can watch a certain task delivered to him or her by a video clip that was recorded in the very same place where they are being taught. The student can watch this several times and have it explained by the teacher. The same video can even be uploaded onto an ipod so the student can learn at anytime, even when a computer is not accessible. Because autistic children have a problem with social interaction this serves as a way to teach without putting them in an uncomfortable situation. An institute in China has actually made a program that uses a 3d avatar that is very expressive and uses text and verbal communication. This is more focused on the social issue with those with autism. After a 17 day trial of this program all users saw positive effects in the childrens' performance. Autistic children's behavior is very easily influenced, the feel of a room can put them off and or distract them. Using colors that are calming such as blues or purples would greatly help them be settled. Putting down a rug is also a great idea because you can then take the children to the floor and interact with them, spending time sitting down on the ground is very natural and will help the children feel comfortable. By removing the florescent lighting and using a less harsh bulb, it will increase the comfortability as well. In the classroom there should be words that describe everything with a picture that goes along with it. For instance if there is a bathroom in the classroom write boldly "bathroom" and next to it place a picture of a toilet. Using music throughout the day for backround music is also a great way to calm the students. Classical music or jazz are great choices.

__**What is Autism**__

Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first two years of life and is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain, impacting development in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. Both children and adults on the autism spectrum typically show difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities.
 * Autistic disorder appears in early childhood
 * Autism prevents children and adolescents from interacting normally
 * There is an estimated 1 in every 150 children that live with autism

__**Signs of Autism**__

=
Children with autism generally have problems in three crucial areas of development — social interaction, language and behavior. But because the symptoms of autism vary greatly, two children with the same diagnosis may act quite differently and have strikingly different skills. In most cases, though, the most severe autism is marked by a complete inability to communicate or interact with other people. Many children show signs of autism in early infancy. Other children may develop normally for the first few months or years of life but then suddenly become withdrawn, aggressive or lose language skills they've already acquired. Though each child with autism is likely to have a unique pattern of behavior======


 * Difficulty communicating with others
 * Repetitious behavior
 * Limited range of interests and activities
 * Easily upset over slight change in environment



__**Exceptional talent**__

With autism an individual sometimes has a field which they are very talented at. This is known as Savant syndrome.It is a rare condition where a person of subnormal intelligence or severely limited emotional range has prodigious intellectual gifts in a specific area. Mathematical, musical, artistic, and mechanical abilities have been among the talents demonstrated by savants. Examples include performing rapid mental calculations of huge sums, playing lengthy compositions from memory after a single hearing, and repairing complex mechanisms without training.



When teaching an individual with Autism one must make sure that they are in fact getting through. It is a process of diligence but is rewarding to both the teacher and the student. **
 * __Teaching Strategies__
 * Visuals
 * Focus on strong points
 * Keep away from distractions
 * Use fixations to incorporate other subjects

With the day and age that we are living in there are tons of resources at the fingertips of teachers. Incorporating the use of computers will greatly help in the effectiveness of learning by the student. Ipods are also a great resource because they can be taken virtually anywhere and are easy to take with the student. **
 * __Technology in the Classroom__




 * __Classroom Environment__**

The classroom should incorporate... **
 * The classroom is a huge factor in the mind of an autistic child. Because of the fact that they hate an uncomfortable environment, the teacher must always make sure that they are keeping the class comfortable.
 * Calm colors
 * Space rugs
 * pictures and words
 * dim lighting

References


 * Autism Society. "What is Autism" Autsimsociety.org
 * Batchelder, Lisa. "Autism in the Classroom." Brainconnection.com
 * Cheng, Yufang. "Exploring the social competence of students with autism spectrum conditions in a collaborative virtual learning environment." Ebscohost.com
 * Cihak, David. "The Use of Video Modeling via a Video ipod and a System of Least Prompts to Improve Transitional Behaviors for Student with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the General Education Classroom." Proquest.umi.com
 * Davidson, Tish. "Savant Syndrome" Autism.org
 * Hembree, Dahloan. "Creating a Calming Classroom for Autistic Children" Associatedcontent.com
 * Leaf, Justin. "The Effectiveness of a Group Teaching Interaction Procedure of Teaching Social Skills to Young Children with a Pervasive Developmental Disorder." Ebscohost.com
 * Perlstein, David. "Autism Symptoms." Emedicinehealth.com
 * Mayo Clinic Staff. "Autism: Symptoms" Mayoclinic.com

__Five Exam Questions__

1. What characteristic stands out in a Savant? a. Overweight b. Talented c. Very short d. Sickness

2. What environment should be displayed in a classroom for an autistic individual? a. Bright and vibrant b. Loud and noisy c. Calming

3. Being good in sports is a sign of autism. a. True b. False

4. Technology is a wonderful way to reach those who have autism. a. True b. False

5. What is the likeliness of being born with autism? a. 1 in 25 b. 1 in 30 c. 1 in 100 d. 1 in 150