The Basics of Autism Spectrum Disorders Training Series Regional Autism Advisory Council of Southwest Ohio (RAAC-SWO) RAAC Training Committee 2011
May 25, 2015
The Basics of Autism Spectrum Disorders
Training Series
Regional Autism Advisory Council of
Southwest Ohio (RAAC-SWO)
RAAC Training Committee 2011
Training Series Modules
Module One: Autism Defined, Autism Prevalence and Primary Characteristics
Module Two: Physical Characteristics of Autism
Module Three: Cognition and Learning in Autism
Module Four: Getting the Student Ready to Learn
Module Five: Structuring the Classroom Environment
Module Six: Using Reinforcement in the Classroom
Training Series Modules
Module Seven: Autism and Sensory Differences
Module Eight: Sensory in the Classroom
Module Nine: Communication and Autism
Module Ten: Communication in the Classroom
Module Eleven: Behavior Challenges and Autism
Module Twelve: Understanding Behavior in Students with Autism
Training Series ModulesModule Thirteen: Social Skills in the School
Environment
Module Fourteen: Functional Behavior Assessment
Module Fifteen: Working Together as a Team
Module Sixteen: Autism and Leisure Skills to Teach
Module Seventeen: Special Issues of Adolescence
Module Eighteen: Safety and Autism
Module Nineteen: Special Issues: High School, Transition, and Job Readiness
Training Modules SeriesModule Twenty: Asperger Syndrome: Managing
and Organizing the Environment
Module Twenty-One: Asperger Syndrome: Addressing Social Skills
Behavior Characteristics
Students with ASD do not all behave the same. They have differences based on their communication, social skills, ability to cope, and their environment.
The following slides will describe four categories of behavior:
Social InteractionActivity LevelRepetitive BehaviorsAggression
Big Idea
The goal is not for us to change the person, but to improve their
ability to interact with and participate in their world.
Social Interaction
Not Social Overly Social
Strategies for Social Interaction
Some students with ASD do not like it if someone is too close to them. It may be helpful to let the student know that you are approaching them.
Some students with ASD like to “people watch”, or be around people, but not have to interact with them.
Strategies for Social Interaction
Some students with ASD do not mind others being nearby, they just ignore them. You may have to explain this to others so that they do not get their feelings hurt
Encourage, but do not force the student with ASD to interact.
Strategies for Social Interaction
Be aware of safety concerns for students with ASD.
Some students with ASD “never see a stranger”.
They talk to or they are over-friendly with people that they don’t know.
They may be at risk if a person wants to take advantage of them.
It can be difficult to teach a child with ASD who is and who is not a “safe” person.
Activity Level
Under-Active Over-Active
Strategies for Under-Activity
It is important to help the student establish an exercise routine:
In general, activity level decreases during adolescence.
Lack of exercise may result in weight gain.
Use of a picture schedule may help
Just like most people, children with ASD need motivators to exercise.
Repetitive Behaviors
None Frequent
Repetitive Behaviors Explained
Students with ASD may have certain behaviors that they do over and over again. Often these are physical behaviors, such as hand flapping, rocking, finger flicking, or a repeated sound.
These behaviors may happen because of a sensory need (see Module Seven).
These repetitive behaviors may occur more often when the student is upset, anxious, or when they are not busy.
Strategies for Addressing Repetitive Behaviors
Be aware that down or free time often leads to the student engaging in these behaviors.
Help the student find things that they can do during down time.
There are times that you may want to give the student something else to do that limits their use of the repetitive behavior (i.e. if they flap arms, give them something to carry when they are out in the community).
Challenging Behavior
Challenging behavior can include both physically and verbally aggressive
behaviors.
None Frequent
Challenging Behavior May Be the Result Of*……
Difficulty expressing basic wants, needs and feelings.
Not knowing how to ask for help or getting someone’s attention.
Appearing to understand directions even when they don’t. We may think they are being uncooperative.
Difficulty understanding explanations, reassurance or instructions.
*Adapted from Nancy Dalrymple’s Helping Children with Autism Learn to “Behave”
Challenging Behavior May Be the Result of…..
Difficulty understanding social rules or social interaction.
Difficulty understanding the viewpoint and motives of others.
Need for longer than usual time to process, organize, and retrieve information.
Dependence on routines and not coping when events are out of order.
Limited number of interests and activities.
Sensory overload.
Challenging Behavior May Be the Result Of…
Unusual fears about harmless objects or situations.
No fear of real dangers.
Lack of sleep.
Physical discomfort due to gastrointestinal or other medical problems.
Strategies for Addressing Challenging Behaviors
Must first understand the reason behind the behavior (refer to Module Twelve)
It is very important that the student have a way to communicate so that others can easily understand them.
Be sure they understand what you are saying. Just because the student can talk, they still may not be able to understand you.
Check out, and rule out, any medical reasons for a behavior ( i.e. heartburn, localized pain).
More Strategies…..
The problem could be something in the environment (sensory) that needs to be changed.
Give the student time to follow instructions.
New places and things can be hard. Gradually introduce new people, places, and things whenever possible
Even More Strategies….
Change is very hard. Prepare the student for change. Practice change. It helps to break a task into small steps.
Teach new skills or new things in many different settings with different people.
Big Idea
We must first understand why a behavior happens before we can change
it.