NEA Gives Educators Tools to Handle Autism
Guide to help students with autism succeed
April is National Autism Awareness Month – a time to spotlight a disorder that is the fastest growing disability among children today. To help educators in identifying autism and working successfully with children who have the disability, the National Education Association developed an informational guide, The Puzzle of Autism.
Autism is a complex brain disorder that interferes with communication and social skills. Two decades ago, between two and five cases of autism were reported per 10,000 people nationwide. New studies show that it now affects as many as one in 166 people. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the number of schoolchildren with autism has risen steeply over the last decade, increasing more than fivefold during the 1990s.
“We cannot ignore this trend,” said NEA President Reg Weaver. “As our society and our schools change to meet the growing needs of this student population, it’s increasingly important to equip educators with the information they need to help students with autism succeed.”
The Puzzle of Autism explains common autistic characteristics and suggests effective classroom strategies for improving the communication, sensory, social and behavioral skills of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
The guide:
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Provides educators with a general understanding of ASD;
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Explains the characteristics exhibited by students with ASD;
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Suggests evidence-based effective strategies for students with ASD; and
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Identifies resources where additional information on ASD can be found.
Copies can be purchased from NEA’s Professional Library. The complete guide can be downloaded from the NEA Web site.
“There’s a certain passion and commitment to children that draw people into the teaching profession,” Weaver said. “Educators want to help children with ASD but realize they need the right guidance and resources to do so. This guide educates and gives practical tips on things like classroom setup and ways to accommodate writing problems and sensory sensitivities to meet the needs of students with autism.”
The Puzzle of Autism is the result of a collaboration among NEA, the Autism Society of America, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the National Association of School Psychologists.
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