“Understanding our Differences changed the culture of my school. Kids developed real friendships with kids they might not have talked to before. It absolutely inspired me.”

Amanda Herman
Special education teacher (LLD), Los Angeles CA

Autism Spectrum Disorder

This unit is designed to introduce the concept of a spectrum and help students understand how Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects the brain and social communication skills. The students also learn about Asperger’s syndrome.

Key themes:

• Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder have a wide range of abilities.
• Individuals with ASD often have difficulties with social communication skills.
• Many individuals with ASD, but not all, have sensory integration issues.
• Individuals with sensory integration issues have difficulty interpreting sensory information and how they feel in their environments.

Program implementation is flexible and can be adapted for your classroom, but a typical 2-hour session includes:

ACTIVITY	DESCRIPTION
Informational PowerPoint presentation	Students learn the term spectrum. A timeline demonstrates that people develop social communication skills in an orderly, step-by-step way.
Two small group activities	A cooperative puzzle activity demonstrates social communication challenges. A sensory stimulation exercise helps students understand how a person having difficulty interpreting sensory information might feel in their environment.
Video: “Intricate Minds II: Understanding Elementary School Classmates With Asperger Syndrome.”	The video highlights children with Asperger’s syndrome talking about their interests and what it is like going to school.
Guest Speaker	Students meet a guest speaker who shares the experience of living with autism.