Providing access for students on the autism spectrum Benedictine College

O If you have known one individual with autism….you have known one person with autism.

A few facts about autism O Persuasive developmental disorder O Impacts O Communication skills O Information processing O Fine and gross motor skills O Intellectual skills O Autism is a spectrum disorder—level of impact varies depending on degree of severity.

Prevalence O 1 in 150 Americans O Widely debated, some say 1 in 60

Types of Autism O Asperger’s Disorder—impaired social interactions with no significant language delays. Tested in the average intellectual range. O Autistic Disorder—impaired social interactions, imagination and communication skills with average-to-low levels of intelligence

Continued… O Pervasive Developmental Disorder NOS— person does not meet the criteria for a specific diagnosis, but exhibits severe and pervasive impairment.

Characteristics O Language O Social Interaction O Behavior

Language O Limited eye contact; may look down or away when spoken to O Unexplained laughing or crying O Difficulty learning through conventional teaching methods O Interprets information literally; difficult grasping the abstract; preoccupied with ideas and may need redirected back to topic

Social Interactions O Difficulty mixing with peers; reduced ability to collaborate with others O Less responsive to social cues; inability to understand others feelings/views O Prefers being alone; may appear withdrawn

Behavior O Inflexible; resistant to change in ritual or routine O Impulsive; no real fear of danger O Sustained odd behavior O Over-sensitivity to stimuli O Marked physical over-activity; repetitive body movements O Marked passivity

How do we provide access? O Provide a clear syllabus O Announces changes in advance in multiple forms O Rules and academic expectations should be written in the syllabus, not just spoken O If possible, break assignments into shorter more manageable units O Maintain a consistent, well-structured environment

Continued… O Allow students to sit in the same seat each session. O Reduce distractions as much as possible. O Use visual aids like Power Point, charts and graphs as much as possible. O Students may use ear plugs to decrease distractions O Utilize an outline to help the student understand the purpose of the discussion and your expected outcomes.

Continued… O Do not internalize negative comments, can be students way of dealing with frustrations O Students can be very blunt O Notify Student Success if attending becomes irregular