Autism for School Personnel

Autism Overview
(Time: 3 hours)
Students with autism spectrum disorders face unique challenges, and in turn, present unique challenges. Although their behavior appears much like behavior seen by students with other disabilities, the cognitive processes (the reasons) behind the behaviors are very different. Typical behavior management strategies are not usually successful with these students because of these neurological differences. In fact, behavior management strategies that are successful with others often exacerbate the difficulties of these students. This workshop focuses on how these students process information and strategies that are more successful with this population.

Target Audience: District and campus administrators, nurses, counselors, and other staff members who require a working knowledge of this population, but are not responsible for day-to-day education or assessment of these students


Success in the Classroom with Autism Spectrum Disorders
(Time: 6 hours)
This workshop explains the challenges students with an autism spectrum disorder present to the classroom teacher. Common characteristics and areas of difficulty these students experience will be explained as well as how those difficulties interfere with the student’s academic and behavioral progress. In addition, practical strategies that can be effectively implemented in the classroom will be taught.

Target Audience: General and special education teachers, counselors, speech and language pathologists, and assessment staff for all levels of students


Meeting the Behavioral Challenge of Students with Autism
(Time: 6 hours)
— Make & Take
Learn practical strategies such as writing informational stories, using visual cues, and using visual schedules to help students be more successful in the classroom. Participants will be given time during the workshop to write an informational story and have it critiqued to ensure they understand the concepts and so they have a finished product they can use the moment they get back to their classrooms. They will also begin to make a visual schedule for one of their students.

Target Audience: General and Special Education Teachers, Counselors, Licensed Specialists in School Psychology, Speech and Language Pathologists.

Materials: Participants will need to bring scissors, tape, glue or glue sticks, and colored markers. (Extra materials fee will be required.)


Using Informational Stories
(Time: 3 hours)
— Make & Take
Provide information regarding what informational stories are, how they work, how to write them, and how to use them. Participants will be given time during the workshop to write an informational story and have it critiqued to ensure they understand the concepts and so they have a finished product they can use the moment they get back to their classrooms.

Target Audience: General and Special Education Teachers, Speech and Language Pathologists, Licensed Specialists of School Psychology, Counselors, Paraprofessionals, and Administrators.

Materials: Participants will need a pen/pencil and paper on which to write an informational story.

For Use With: Students who have limited understanding of behavioral expectations in various social situations (i.e., students with Autism, Aspergers Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Learning Disabilities, Mild Mental Retardation, etc.) Effective strategy for students who are nonverbal as well as hyper-verbal; low cognitive functioning as well as gifted intellectually; ages 3-22.


Visual Strategies for Students with Autism
(Time: 3 hours)
— Make & Take
Learn to incorporate visual cues in your classroom, the importance of visual schedules, how to create a schedule within a schedule, and how to use a visual schedule. Participants will be given time to begin making schedules for their students.

Target Audience: General and Special Education Teachers, Counselors, Licensed Specialists in School Psychology, Speech and Language Pathologists
Materials: Participants will need to bring scissors, tape, glue or glue sticks, and colored markers. (Extra materials fee will be required.)


Using Visual Schedules
(Time: 1 hour)
Learn the importance of visual schedules; how to create a schedule within a schedule; how to use a visual schedule.

Target Audience: General and Special Education Teachers, Counselors, Licensed Specialists in School Psychology, Speech and Language Pathologists.