FAQautism

We are continuing a conversation about teacher attitude – about welcoming students with autism into a typical classroom. In the podcast “Teacher Attitude 1,” we talked about the first of three basic principles for educators to consider when welcoming students with autism into the classroom. In this podcast, we will continue the discussion.
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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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Teachers on all grade levels have asked for tips about welcoming a student diagnosed with autism into a “regular education” classroom. The overall topic of helping a youngster with autism function well in school could fill several books. Today we will just look at one tiny issue that can make a world of difference from [...]

 

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Some individuals with autism repeat the same stories over and over or talk endlessly about one topic. How can we help our friends add variety to their conversations?
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What are the basics for getting a job? What skills does an individual with autism want to sharpen before going for that first job interview? Once employed, what skills can help people keep their job? Take a look at four job skills critical for successful employment.
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A recent Dennis the Menace cartoon by Hank Ketcham has a 12-word caption filled with wise advice for parents, teachers, therapists, and families of kids with autism.
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Research confirms what grandmamma always knew: “Vegetables are good for you.” Of course, veggies have no impact on the health of people who refuse to eat them. Let us look at 3 rules to follow when attempting to sneak healthy vegetables into the diet of individuals with autism.
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What are our options when a friend with autism is reluctant about participating in fun, recreational activities? Some individuals with autism require special encouragement or promises such as “First, take a walk with me, then you can watch your DVD.” But in many cases, the best approach is to simply announce an activity and, if [...]

 

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Let us take another glimpse into the daily lives of ten-year-old twins Jenny and Jeffry, both of whom are diagnosed with autism. The marked differences in, among other things, their communication, personal interaction, sensory issues, flexibility, and self-sufficiency illustrate the breadth of the spectrum of autism.
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Jenny and Jeffry are ten-year-old twins. They are precious youngsters, loved by their family, teachers, and friends at school. The twins, of course, were born of the same parents, have grown up in the same home, and have had the same medical care, educational opportunities, and therapy over the years. But the twins, both diagnosed [...]

 

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Do you ever feel like you are engaged in a constant battle of wills? Let’s look at a strategy for increasing cooperation and compliance, even with the most strong-willed youngster diagnosed with autism. This proactive process turns a battle of wills into a win-win situation for all involved.
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A mom was puzzling over the differences in the personalities of her two sons with autism. One of the boys responds best to strict, specific instructions, and the other only responds to gentle, sweet coaxing. Mom said, “People who don’t know our family think I speak too harshly our oldest son and that I spoil [...]

 

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What exactly do we mean when we tell a youngster we expect them to be good? What does a teacher mean when she reports a student was good in class? How can a person with autism who interprets words and phrases quite literally respond to a stern instruction from an adult to “be good” in [...]

 

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Welcome to a unique Saturday edition of FAQautism.com – a brief post reminding you of our VODcasts – short video segments posted on our website http://FAQautism.com. Click here to listen to valentine songs and learn to cut paper valentines. Click here for creative, fun, and inexpensive ways to say “I love you” to your friends [...]

 

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In my corner of the world, February 14 is Valentine’s Day – a day of expressing love and friendship with family, friends, fellow students, and others whom we see daily. Today we’ll share some ideas for helping our friends of all ages with autism join in the fun. And take a minute to click on [...]

 

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Some children, teens, and adults with autism frequently strike out at other people. Why do our friends hit or pinch strangers, family and friends, or their fellow students at school?
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How should we respond to our friends with autism who murmur under their breath, some only occasionally but others with a constant stream of conversation, nonsense syllables, the alphabet song, or movie scripts?
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What options do we have when a student with autism screams loudly and scratches his arms when unexpected announcements are made over the loudspeaker in the classroom? Or when a youngster sneaks into the kitchen at night and eats whole jars of peanut butter? How can we help a person who inadvertently distracts her fellow [...]

 

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Everyone join me in singing, “Happy 700th anniversary to you…..!” We are posting our 700th FAQautism.com podcast today, and we haven’t even scratched the surface of the myriad of issues that arise in the daily lives of individuals with autism. The challenges keep coming for all of us, but, fortunately, the supportive autism community – [...]

 

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We are all aware of the value of interacting casually with our friends with autism, but we also know of many issues that stand in the way of making personal connections. Our time and energy are limited. Some individuals with autism actually resist social interaction, seem to ignore our friendly conversation, or even appear oblivious [...]

 

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