An Educator’s Guide to ASD (Level 1 Supports) is the ninth guide in the Life Journey Through Autism resource guide series. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex and heterogeneous group of developmental disorders that range in symptoms and level of severity. These symptoms can manifest themselves as problem behaviors or difficulty problem-solving in the classroom. The revised guide serves as a primer for general education teachers to support their students who have Level 1 ASD, as introduced in DSM-5 and defined as a mild form of autism that requires support. Specifically, the guide contains information that will help teachers in the general education classroom and others to:
- Become familiar with ASD and how it affects a child
- Identify evidence-based academic and environmental strategies to promote classroom success
- Foster successful peer relations and social interactions
- Effectively communicate and collaborate with parents during the individual education program process
The new autism educational resource combines relevant content from the current guide with new information, such as:
- Description of changes in diagnostic terminology and culturally accepted terms
- Legislative history
- Behavior-based strategies, visual supports, and assistive technology
- Evidence-based academic and environmental strategies
- Strategies and planning related to transitioning to adulthood
This resource is a revision and update of the third guidebook in OAR’s Life Journey Through Autism series, An Educator’s Guide to Asperger Syndrome. These updates are partially in response to thehttps://researchautism.org/resources/an-educators-guide-to-asperger-syndrome/ elimination of “Asperger Syndrome” from the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-V) which was released in 2013. Since then, Asperger Syndrome is captured under the broad term Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The previous version of the guide continues to be available both in hard copy and for online download.
