If you are a teacher whose classroom includes students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it’s critical that you understand ASD and its associated behaviors. What you may see as misbehavior, such as when a child with ASD does not respond to directions, ignores you, or clowns around, may very well be related to ASD. The…
This article is an excerpt from OAR’s “Understanding Autism: Professional Development Curriculum.” For students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), temper tantrums may be triggered for a variety of reasons. Because many children with autism have difficulties communicating in socially acceptable ways, they may act out when they are confused, afraid, anxious, or stressed about something.…
As we enter the warmer months, our thoughts naturally turn to pleasant outdoor activities to take advantage of the enjoyable weather. While this is certainly a refreshing opportunity after a long winter, it does present challenges for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) as they finish the school year. During this time of year, school…
Anxiety is one of the most prevalent co-occurring symptoms for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Individuals with ASD and anxiety present with complex behaviors that interfere with the ability to communicate effectively and respond appropriately. In addition to skill deficits, auditory processing issues, and motor speech disorders, anxiety is one of the greatest barriers…
As the parent of a student with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), you sit down each year with a group of professionals to craft the Individual Education Program (IEP), a document that focuses on the goals you would like your child to achieve over the next year. But it could and should do more than that.…
My daughter, Anna, is the youngest of three children and the one who helped me to understand how important community and support are for the siblings of people with autism. As the sister of an older brother on the spectrum, Anna has always identified with autism. What she lacked was a community of peers who…
These recommendations from OAR’s “A Guide to Safety” can help you steer your adolescent in a healthy and safe direction. Luke is a teen with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Like any other teenager, dating and relationships are something he thinks about a lot. Like many of his peers with ASD, he doesn’t understand the unspoken…
I recently heard from a parent who was in the process of moving to a new city. She was very concerned about helping her son, Andre, who has autism spectrum disorder (ASD), adjust to all of the upcoming changes a move entails, including a new house and a new school. I assured her that there…
OAR developed the Kit for Kids program to help teach elementary and middle school students to better understand and learn to accept their peers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The kit consists of a lesson plan, peer education booklet, classroom poster, and how-to tips for parents and teachers. We sat down with Dr. Jonathan Campbell…
Any family’s trip to Disney World during the holidays is likely to require a lot of preparation. For a family with three children, two of whom have autism, it is extra challenging. This is how the mom in the family prepared: She packed a white pop-up Christmas tree, a spiral cone-like shape that assembled easily,…
