FAQautism

Every student – whether they have specific disabilities or not – has their own unique learning style and personality. The teacher’s job becomes even more complex when autism is added to that mix of individual differences. We will look at three basic principles for educators to consider when welcoming students with autism into the classroom.

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1. PERSON FIRST. We do not, of course, define a person by their disability. Instead, we look past their limitations and challenges and view them as a person first. Although we know this principle, it can be difficult to overlook a person’s disability.

Let us put ourselves into a hypothetical situation to explore the issue. If a person we have known a person for many years – a family member, friend, or colleague – our viewpoint of that person immediately turns on its head when they tell us they have just been diagnosed with aggressive, terminal cancer. When we discover a person is going to die within a month, our topics of conversation and our interaction with the person changes noticeably and abruptly.

In the same way, we tend to treat students differently if they have significant physical disabilities or a history of aggressive, hurtful behaviors. The same challenge can arise when a student’s autism results in unusual interests, repetitive sounds, obsessive focus, or unconventional sensory issues.

Granted, it is difficult to look past specific disabilities and limitations. And a good teacher / therapist / parent will take disabilities and limitations into consideration every day. But it is critical that we look deeper and discover the “real person” who can be hidden behind all these issues.

TIP FOR THE DAY: As a teacher, you are, of course, sensitive to and responsive to individual differences in all your students. But autism magnifies the issue, making it necessary to consider three basic principles, the first being to consider “person first.” Click on the second half of this discussion – Teacher Attitude 2 – so we can continue this important discussion.

NOTE TO READERS AND LISTENERS: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. Feel free to send me a confidential email at talk@FAQautism.com with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solution. And don’t forget to check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. http://FAQautism.com

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