Kit for Kids

Why Kit for Kids?

Despite the growing number of children with autism educated in mainstream classrooms, many students are not familiar with autism. A University of Georgia study (Campbell & Barger, 2010) found that only 46% of middle school students surveyed had heard of autism. Despite some recognition of the disability, they had little knowledge of its characteristics, such as communication and social skill challenges. If students are uninformed about a disability, they often attribute undesirable social behaviors to individual choice. For example, a classmate may interpret avoidance of eye contact as rude instead of as a behavioral characteristic of autism.

Negative behaviors stem from this lack of understanding. A 2012 study by the Kennedy Krieger Institute found that 63% of children with autism surveyed had been bullied, compared to only 12% of these same children’s typically-developing siblings.  The combination of more autism diagnoses, more children with autism accessing general education, and an explosion of bullying is creating a perfect storm in America’s classrooms. OAR’s Kit for Kids helps address these problems; educating children about autism will foster a greater understanding of the disability and its characteristics, as expressed in school settings. This improved knowledge will lead to a more compassionate and inclusive classroom environment.

Introductory Video (2:52 mins)

This three-minute web video uses cartoon animation, sound, and color to capture children’s attention, yet still offers accurate autism information using language they can understand. It is a great way to start a lesson about autism and accepting differences.

“What’s Up with Nick?” Booklets

The “What’s up with Nick?” booklet and lesson is a colorful, kid-friendly booklet that focuses on a boy with autism named Nick. It teaches children that students with autism may think differently or need some accommodations, but all students are of equal worth and should be treated as such. Each kit contains 20 booklets.

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How to Use Sheet

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Lesson Plan (student-led)

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Classroom Poster

Use this small classroom poster to facilitate a discussion at the end of the storytelling.

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Helpful Tips

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Activity Workbooks: Grades K-1, 2-3, 4-5, 6-8

The Kit for Kids online activity workbooks expand upon the information presented in the “What’s Up with Nick?” story and give students a chance to engage with the material they just learned in the lesson. There are different workbooks for students in grades K-1, 2-3, 4-5, and 6-8. They can be assigned as independent or group classwork, or as homework.

Grades K-1

Grades 2-3

Grades 4-5

Grades 6-8

Friendship Tip Sheets: Grades K-1, 2-3, 4-5, 6-8

The Kit for Kids Friendship Tip Sheets are designed to help non-autistic kids be understanding, supportive friends to their autistic peers. The Tip Sheets use engaging visuals, activities, and reflection questions to capture children’s attention and promote discussion. They cover some of the communication barriers and sensory differences that can cause misunderstandings between autistic and non-autistic kids and provide clear, actionable steps that focus on what autistic individuals want their peers to know.

Whether used in coordination with the other Kit for Kids materials or simply as a conversation starter, the Tip Sheets serve as an especially effective tool for encouraging autism acceptance.

Grades K-1

Grades 2-3

Grades 4-5

Grades 6-8