......created: June 10, 1998

What is Autism? A definition from the Autism Society of America.
*Autism*

Diagnostic Criteria for 299.00 - Autistic Disorder
from the American Psychiatric Association
DSM IV

Information in Spanish about autism
Autismo. Asociación Nuevo Horizonte.

Autism Primer: Twenty Questions And Answers
Autism - Twenty Questions

Structured Teaching Ideas
Structured Teaching

Group ideas for preschool and primary inclusion classrooms.
Structuring Classrooms for Children with Autism

Autism and the importance of Choice
Choice

Tips for teaching high functioning people with autism.
Tips for Teaching

When social skills are difficult for children to
master, try Social Stories by Carol Gray.
Social Stories

Nonverbal Thinking, Communication, Imitation, and Play Skills From a
Developmental Perspective
Nonverbal Thinking

The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) has been very successful for children who have autistic spectrum disorders. It gives them a method of communication AND promotes verbal communication.
Mayer-Johnson PCS Book symbols are excellent to use with this system.
Mayer-Johnson

The Autism Society of America offers a wealth of information
on all aspects of autism. Its membership is open to anyone interested in learning more about autism. Their conference is held each summer in a different part of the U.S. It includes workshops on education, medical issues, communication, legal concerns, and family services, as well as presentations by a number of adults with autism.
See you there!
The Autism Society of America Home Page

Many links on the Room5 page are to the TEACCH web site. I highly recommend attending a TEACCH workshop or conference if possible.
Division TEACCH

Nobody can do everything... but everybody can do something.

ideas....

Bright ideas from my classroom for school and home
*Bright ideas*

My Structured Teaching strategies page ~ adapted from TEACCH
*Strategies*

My Disability Resources Page
with ideas for home and school
*Resources*

Check out the classroom (and home) ideas on these pages.
More Classroom Ideas

My favorite place for information on autism conferences and books is:
http://www.futurehorizons-autism.com/.

This is a great site for teachers and parents to exchange ideas. You will find many questions and answers on the subject of autism.
Teachers.Net

IEP GOALS~ Educational Service Unit 10 of Kearney, Nebraska has created a wonderful special education site with suggestions for IEP goals and objectives. These are listed by topical areas such as: accommodations, math, reading, social/cognitive, pre-academics. The examples in each area range from very low to grade level skills.
Special Education Goals and Objectives

I am important.....
"...I am the decisive element in the classroom. My personal approach creates the climate. My daily mood makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt, or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or de-humanized."
~~Haim Ginott~~

families...

Parents are special people !

As teachers, we work with these children usually less than 6 hours per day and 5 days per week. Here are words from the hearts of families. Their jobs are twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week --- for a lifetime --- they are the strong ones. I am often told that I must be a "very special person" because of my job, but I know I don't deserve that kind of recognition. I chose this job that I love so much, and I get paid for it. Most of these parents did not have a choice. They don't get paid. Their work never ends. Their love is unconditional.
THEY are the special people.

Information from parents on what to do and where to go when you find out your child has autism.
Advice to parents from a parent

What do you think about this? Many parents get odd looks from others when out in the community with their children who have autism. They also receive a great deal of "advice" from complete strangers on how to discipline their children. Here is a selection of autism information cards that some parents have found useful for those times when the public needs a bit more information.
Autism Info Cards

Attitude... is the mind's paintbrush. It can color any situation.

friends...

My special friends :) :)
Trevor
Trevor's Story ~~ by his Mom
Trevor update: He's been cancer free since December 1997.
He's happy, healthy, and now in 8th grade!