How to Teach Other Children About Autism

Working with an autistic child requires patience.

Before the 1990s, school officials rarely placed autistic students alongside their mainstream peers. Since those days, administrators have seen fit to blend them in with nondisabled students, with the help of a paraprofessional, or teacher's aide. According to veteran speech pathologist Ann Christy Dyvbik, "The idea behind inclusion is that every child should be an equally valued member of the school culture." Dyvbik also suggests that inclusion can be a learning experience, because it exposes the "normal" children to diversity. In addition, it causes teachers to not only have to learn how to work with autistic children, but to teach the other students as well.

Instructions

1. Plan a lesson on respecting differences in other people. Emphasize that it is cruel to laugh at, or ridicule other children who are different.

2. Wait until the autistic child has gone to his special classes before executing the lesson. Then start the discussion by slowly saying the word, "Autistic." Have the students repeat after you.

3. Test for prior knowledge. Ask any of your students if they have heard the term. If multiple hands go up, then ask them what it means for someone to be autistic.

4. Describe as compassionately as you can how an autistic child is different. Inform your class that autistic children do not cope with significant change--such as a switch in schedule or a substitute teacher--as well as their friends who do not have this disorder.

5. Encourage your mainstream students to help their autistic classmate. Involve them in the process of accustoming him to the regular classroom environment. According to Autism Society, it could be as simple as speaking to the autistic class member in short sentences and using gestures, such as pointing.

6. Let your class know that you are available to answer any questions they have about the situation. Answer such queries as they come.

7. Be firm. Inform your other students that if you catch them making fun of the autistic students, or anyone else, discipline will come swiftly. Call the parents or guardians of anyone who violates this rule.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure children know that when an autistic child is having a meltdown, the best way to be helpful is to leave him alone, and to stay well out of his path. That moment is not the time to try to initiate a conversation with the enraged or upset child--it will only escalate the situation.

References

• Autism Society: Growing Up With Autism
• Education Next: Autism and the Inclusion Mandate