Autism Spectrum Disorder: Inclusion in the Classroom

Martin E. Block (2006), the author of “What is Autism?”, describes autism as “a disability that significantly impairs a child’s ability to interact and communicate with others.” Autism is a spectrum disorder and does not affect one child the same way as another child who is on the spectrum. The article written by Block, “What is Autism?”, gives an example of two different children in two different grades and their experiences during their physical education class. 

The first child, Serena, loves gym class with the loud noises of the gym, and the music the class listens to. The second child, Ryan, does not like gym class due to the loud noises and social interactions and will wear headphones to block out the noisy gym. This is because Autism is a spectrum disorder (Block, 2006). Common Characteristics of autism are: a lack of social relatedness, communication impairments, and unique stereotypic and repetitive behaviors (Block, 2006). 

Teaching students with autism is one of the most challenging groups of students to teach (Campbell, Love, Springs, Toland, and Usher, 2019). Students with autism have a great range of abilities and disabilities (Dunlap & Fox, 1999). With students with autism having a different range of abilities and disabilities, some students might have some challenges with learning while others are intellectually gifted. Students with autism can learn with the appropriate teaching strategies and accommodations. These appropriate teaching strategies and accommodations include: provided structure, tools, focusing on developing skills (skills that can be used in their future, future job, life, or school), and carefully plan transitions (Dunlap & Fox, 1999).

One in one hundred and fifty children have autism (Teffs & Whitbread, 2009). The rise of children being diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) has increased the number of students with ASD in general education classrooms. According to Teffs and Whitbread, teacher preparation rarely includes training in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Because of a decrease in training, teachers feel unprepared and feel like they have a lack of resources and training to accommodate their students with ASD. 

Reflection and Conclusion  

Martin E. Block (2006) defines autism as a disability that significantly impairs a child’s ability to interact and communicate with others. Because autism is a spectrum disorder, not every two children will have the same characteristics as the other. Students with autism may have challenges with learning because there is such a different range of abilities and disabilities for different individuals (Dunlap & Fox, 1999). From learning being different with different individuals, there have to be accommodations and learning strategies that will benefit our students with disabilities. Teachers can learn these accommodations and learning strategies with training. Especially since there has been an increase in students with ASD (Teffs & Whitbread, 2009). However, teachers feel unprepared to help accommodate their students because of a lack of training and resources.

References

Block, M. (2006). What Is Autism?. Teaching Elementary Physical Education: TEPE., 17(6), 7. 

Retrieved from https://web.s.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=0&sid=be6ae187-1176-4621-9e72-e89e55654b08%40redis

Teffs, E. E., & Whitbread, K. M. (2009). Level of Preparation of General Education Teachers to 

Include Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Current Issues in Education, 12.

 Retrieved from https://cie.asu.edu/ojs/index.php/cieatasu/article/view/172 

Campbell, J.M., Love, A.M.A, Springs, A.D., Toland, M.D., and Usher, E.L. (2019). Can I teach students with Autism Specturm Disorder?: Investgating teacher self-efficacy with an emerging population of students. Reseacrh Developmental Disabilities.

Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2019.02.005 

Dunlap, Glen & Fox, Lisa (1999). Teaching Students with Autism. Hoagies’ Gifted Education Page. Retrived from https://www.hoagiesgifted.org/eric/e582.html

Multiple Choice Questions:

General Education teachers feel unprepared to teacher student with autism becuase:

A) There is a lack of training 

B) There is no resources being provided 

C) Both A and B

D) None of the above 

Which one of thesse resources would help a student with autism in a noisy gym?

A) Sensory headphones 

B) Sensory mats

C) Visual aids

D) Fidget toys/Stress balls

Answers: 

C and A