Posts Tagged ‘Autism spectrum’

Autism: How to Support Students and Their Parents

Saturday, September 4th, 2010

According to the CDC, Autism spectrum diagnoses have increased by 57% within a four year span. With every diagnosis, parents struggle with getting answers and support. Getting the right support for their children at school is especially important. Autistic children are extremely smart and need a staff who is experienced and knowledgeable about how to properly meet the needs of students with autism.

That is why this past Wednesday on the #PTCHAT educators, parents, principals, and other stakeholders shared their advice and resources to help support parents who have children with autism. In addition to the resources shared, please feel free to read our previous posts about autism: Autism and How to Get Support at School, Autism Through One Mother’s Eyes, and Let’s Celebrate All Types of Minds.

Image from Wordle.net

Parentella: For many parents of autistic children classrooms can seem unknown.
cybraryman1: I have the greatest admiration for anyone working with autistic students
ApsatParentella: I wonder if autism is on the rise or are we getting better at diagonalizing it?
readtoday: Teachers should study autism triggers –like flashing lights, loud sounds, etc
vaddienajman: Very helpful, thanks RT @cybraryman1 My Autism page is filled with many useful links: http://cybraryman.com/autism.html
GaryBrannigan: There is no one approach for everyone. For example, some children are affected by some types of lighting, but not others
soapdivine: @ApsatParentella Each special needs pupil should have their own specific goals re: how teachers differentiate.
drtimony: It’s not new expectation for teachers to know important features of all their kids. remove the veil, they’re people/students first.
OceanEyes729: @Parentella agree-treating students like competent individuals increases self-efficacy, self-esteem, respect for teacher
Parentella: What are the 3 top tips you would give to teachers with special needs students?
ainsliehunter: @Parentella 3 top tips – patience, respect, and ability to laugh when the times get tough

Parentella was created to solve the issue of parent and educator communication at elementary, middle school and high school levels. As part of this mission, we are hosting weekly #PTCHAT discussions to encourage a productive dialogue between parents and educators. We hope you will join us Wednesdays at 9 p.m. EST.

You may also want to join Parentella on Facebook to keep updated. We invite you to propose questions for upcoming topics. View the entire transcript here.

If you are new to following hashtag discussions, you may want to check out this video tutorial on using Tweetdeck for hashtag discussions.

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Posted in Education Policy, PTChat/EdChat, Parent Perspectives, Shelly Terrell | 4 Comments »

Surviving the Teenage Years with Asperger’s Syndrome

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

We all remember high school don’t we? The friends, the enemies, the social rules that changed every day. It was crazy for us. But just imagine how much more difficult it is for teenagers with Asperger’s Syndrome.

The strangest IEP (Individual Education Plan) meeting I ever conducted was with “Fred,” a thirteen year old boy with Asperger’s Syndrome. Fred was in a meeting with me, his parents and five of his teachers. Fred was comfortable with the meeting as he had been involved in IEP meetings since he was eight. When I asked him what he thought his goals needed to be for the next semester he clearly articulated the following:

  • I want to be able to talk to 5 girls
  • I want someone to laugh at a joke I say
  • I want to be asked to go to someone’s house after school.

    Pretty clear goals, don’t you think! When I asked Fred why those goals were so important to him he replied:

  • My friends talk to an average of eight girls a day
  • The boys always laugh at his jokes
  • I am the only one who hasn’t visited someone at their house.

    Fred has learned that social relationships are important, and he was asking for help to make them happen for him. But what a way to make a group of teachers uncomfortable! They wanted to talk about Fred’s inattentiveness in class, the fact that he would forget his books and his lack of interest in History.

    I believed that we should follow Fred and his goals. They were important to him. So as a group we attempted to come up with a list of strategies that Fred could use to become more social with his peers. Fred left happy as the meeting was meaningful to him and his current needs. Sure, we also spent some time talking about his attitude and attentiveness in class.

    That IEP meeting was also a great learning experience for the teachers. They came into the meeting thinking solely about how Fred acts in their class. But they left thinking about him as a teenager who was struggling to belong. Just like all teenagers.

    Dianne Kennedy (2002) writes that people with Asperger’s Syndrome will experience ‘the saddest and most difficult time’ when they are teenagers. Hopefully that won’t be the case for Fred.

    image credit: http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/1848/PreviewComp/SuperStock_1848R-366540.jpg
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    Posted in Ainslie Hunter, Special Needs Students, Teacher Perspectives | 3 Comments »