Strategies for Teaching Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Contents:

1. Defining ASD
2. Identify the characteristics of children with ASD
3. Examine the diagnostic process
4. Review research concerning the prevalence of ASD today
5. Assignments

Contents:

1. Demonstrate the collaborative process through teacher communication and interaction
2. Identify and explain the roles of each team member
3. Explore the various types of team teaching and determine when to implement each style
4. Develop ideas for fading adult support and proximity
5. Assess the ability to utilize team members to achieve student success
6. Assignments

Contents:

1. Identify common social deficits in students with ASD
2. Explore and examine strategies for building community and promoting acceptance in the classroom
3. Examine social story techniques that can be used to teach social awareness and expectations to students with ASD
4. Assess the power of role play as a tool for socialization
5. Assignments

Contents:

1. Identify Sensory Processing issues
2. Demonstrate the ability to recognize sensory overload
3. Explore ways to utilize Sensory Integration Therapy in the General Education classroom
4. Develop a variety of multi-sensory approaches to create a safe learning environment of the ASD child
5. Assess and evaluate reasons for self-stimulation
6. Assignments

Contents:

1. Explore ways to support students experiencing Echolalia.
2. Evaluate the various communication devices including Communication Boards, Picture Exchange Communication System and BoardMaker.
3. Compare augmentative and alternative communication
4. Assignments

Contents:

1. Create a plan for teaching life skills to students with ASD
2. Evaluate work systems as a tool to build independence
3. Devise appropriate personal schedules to meet the needs of students with ASD
4. Determine best practices for dealing with transitions
5. Examine and critique long term goals
6. Assignments

Contents:

1. Explore the challenging and ritualistic behaviors of students with ASD
2. Evaluate the appropriate times and methods for rewards and reinforcement
3. Identify rewards and reinforcements to meet the needs of children with ASD
4. Create an Applied Behavior Analysis Plan to meet a specific student’s needs and motivators
5. Assignments

Contents:

1. Review the environmental challenges autistic students face in the classroom setting
2. Evaluate seating and organizational challenges
3. Examine the different possibilities for classroom organization
4. Acquire a basic knowledge for allowing opportunities for movement
5. Assignments

Contents:

1. Create a cooperative learning lesson to benefit students with ASD
2. Explore service learning as a motivational tool and authentic learning experience
3. Identify opportunities for project-based instruction
4. Evaluate the benefits of centers/stations
5. Create an authentic assessment
6. Assignments

Contents:

1. Create meaningful routines and schedules
2. Develop successful transitions
3. List ways to help students with organizational skills
4. Examine the benefits of providing choices
5. Explore ways to create opportunities for breaks
6. Develop the ability to use nonverbal cues
7. Final Assignment