Hello there!

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I signed on to this a while ago, but haven't yet introduced myself because I wasn't sure I'd fit in, being the boring neurotypical lady that I am.

My name is Candace and I am starting off my first year teaching high school freshmen in an Autistic Support setting, though I have worked with kids who have Autism for about six years now.

Some of the kids in my new class are diagnosed with Autism, some with Asperger's, so I have a nice variety, but I'm definitely nervous, as this is my first year.

If anyone has any good advice to help me and my kids get off on the right foot, I'd love it. If there was any advice you'd have given to your teacher or things you wish your old teachers (or current ones) had in the room to help stay focused or relax or just to keep things interesting. Anything at all.

And if any parents have the same kinds of tidbits - things they would like to have seen, things they wish teachers would have done, etc - I'd love to hear it.

I would love for this to be a great resource for advice from people who may have a better understanding of where my kids are coming from.

Hi Candace welcome, I feel it great that you are reaching out to the autism community to gain a better insight into the children you work with. Its not easy giving advice without knowing your thoughts, views, perspective and beliefs.

What you are doing now, reading posts on forums such as this, listening and understanding from the aspie /autie community will help you gain a better understanding, but it does take time. One thing I will say is that we are as deserve and different on the autism spectrum, as people not on the autism spectrum.. so each child has to be treated as an unique individual which they are, there are no easy answers, but embracing each child's difference and working with that, rather than trying to change them.

You would not force a child to walk if they could not, so feel you should not force NT values onto an apsie / autie child. As personally I do not believe in conformity... but that understanding and acceptance is key.

Nice to meet you, Candace.

I absolutely agree! I find that each child is different and unique. And for me, I connect with and understand children with Autism or children who are on the spectrum, much better than I do typical children.

I pride myself on respecting a child's individuality and finding ways to connect each of my children with their curriculum in the way that best works for them.

That being said, I know that many characteristics are shared, such as difficulty with speech or sensory processing. Some students have difficulty processing reading material without visual or tactile prompts. I wonder if people in this community have some ideas on what has worked best for them.

I am very much of the opinion that the world must adapt to my students, and not the other way around. However, I know that the world is slow to catch up to that way of thinking and wonder what has helped others adapt as sort of a stopgap until everyone else comes around.

Thank you so much for responding so quickly and making me feel welcome! I know that sometimes the education community may have less than ideal perceptions of the student with Autism, but I hope to do my part in changing that and in making my school community see all the potential and awesomeness of each of my students!

To WrongPlanet!! !

Nice to meet you Candance, you are a blessing Keep doing what you are doing and children that you end up working with will be very thankful in the end. Be well.

Hello, Candace, and welcome to Wrong Planet. Certainly hoping all the best to you and your students.

Welcome to WP!

yo

Hi Candace!

My advice:

I suggest surfing WP to gain an understanding our actual experience- the real challenges we face are often not understood by NTs at all, including the well meaning individuals.

Never mind the occasional outbreaks of randomness on WP.

Don't listen to 'autism speaks'!


Magliabechi.

just be as patient as you can, and if you see someone with potential, don't give up on them

yo.

Try to remember that we are all very different and usually need a logical reason to want to learn stuff. Not just because some bunch of NTs (assuming here) decided that everyone needs to learn it to live in this completely false 'society' that they have created. So many of us don't need, or want, to join in.

My time at school was the worst and most disturbing time of my life. But then no one had even heard of Aspergers then and Autisics were labeled 'Mongs' where I grew up. Children can be the most viscious of creatures, especially in packs. I got where I am through self-education (mostly after I left school) as I learn extremely fast, when I'm interested, and those around me need to be equally interested and also need to keep up.