Guidelines for teachers and students for inclusive classrooms:
Take a stand. Say no to bullying.
Post it and say it in your classroom: You will not tolerate bullying based on the unique differences among students and classmates.
Create an environment where everyone is welcome.
School is a place where everyone has the opportunity to learn. In the classroom, everyone needs to be included. This means leaving no student out when completing group work, learning about each student's interests, and being encouraging of each student's efforts.
Commit to communication.
Take the time to talk to everyone in the room. Speak clearly and give time for responses. For a student with Asperger's, a commitment to be inclusive and communicative means being courteous and giving feedback.
Respect everyone.
Make the effort to get to know each classmate's strengths and accept what makes each person unique.
Autism Speaks. (2012, November 11). Informational Brochure.
http://www.autismspeaks.org/sites/default/files/sctk_the_school_community.pdf
Classroom Modifications:
http://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/tool-kits/asperger-syndrome-and-high-functioning-autism-tool-kit/classroom
Asperger Syndrome Parent-Professional Information Exchange. (2012, November 12). Should children with an Austism Spectrum Disorder be exempted from homework. http://www.aspieinfo.com/page20.html
- Tasks should be broken into segments, as though they are steps towards completion.
- Use clear and concise language.
- Be clear in your explanation of what the student should be learning and why.
- Help your student stay organized by keeping only the information that pertains to the lesson out on the student's desk.
- Manage and lessen distractions in your classroom. For a student with Asperger's find a location that is the least distracting for their studies.
- Be flexible in your timing. Working on "Asperger Time" means giving your student, "twice as much time, to get half as much done".
http://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/tool-kits/asperger-syndrome-and-high-functioning-autism-tool-kit/classroom
Asperger Syndrome Parent-Professional Information Exchange. (2012, November 12). Should children with an Austism Spectrum Disorder be exempted from homework. http://www.aspieinfo.com/page20.html
Homework Strategies
Asperger Syndrome Parent-Professional Information Exchange. (2012, November 12). Should children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder be exempted from homework. http://www.aspieinfo.com/homework%20article.html
- Work with parent(s) or guardians to find a space for the student which has few or no distractions for homework completion.
- Collaborate with parent(s) or guardians to develop an allotted amount of time for homework. Consider each task and the amount of time it may take for the student to complete it.
- Break the homework into segments for completion. Prolonged concentration is not necessary to complete a task.
- As a teacher, prepare the homework for the student. Highlight the most important parts, explain the task, and keep track of a student's progress.
- Aim to allow the student to start or complete his/her homework before going home.
Asperger Syndrome Parent-Professional Information Exchange. (2012, November 12). Should children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder be exempted from homework. http://www.aspieinfo.com/homework%20article.html
Study Skills:
1. Review material covered in that day's class.
2. Use technology for visual representations of information.
3. Create a time limit for studying.
4. Break down information into segments to be completed as you study.
5. Find an environment that is quiet and free from distractions like television or loud noises.
1. Review material covered in that day's class.
2. Use technology for visual representations of information.
3. Create a time limit for studying.
4. Break down information into segments to be completed as you study.
5. Find an environment that is quiet and free from distractions like television or loud noises.
Finding a School that is right for you.
The U.S. Rehabilitation Act of 1973 states that each person within a school district is entitled to a "free and appropriate public education" .
Denver Post. (2012, November 14). New Boulder school will serve students who have Asperger's Syndrome. http://www.denverpost.com/recommended/ci_17522642
The U.S. Rehabilitation Act of 1973 states that each person within a school district is entitled to a "free and appropriate public education" .
- A student with Asperger's is often part of a general education classroom in public schools. If the general education classroom is not the right fit for your student with Aspergers, that student can be part of the Exceptional Learners class at the student's school.
- A student with Asperger's may qualify for an Individualized Education Plan or a 504. The diagnosis of Asperger's can help determine what services are necessary for a student.
- Various schooling options exist for a student with Asperger's if public school is not meeting his/her needs. Private schools with smaller teacher-to-student ratios may improve a child's experience at school because the student's needs can be met more responsively by the teacher. Additionally, schools which specialize in serving students with Asperger's Syndrome can be located throughout the United States. For example, Temple Grandin School in Lafayette, Colorado serves students with Asperger's. This school offers a 6 to 1 student-teacher ratio and has four days of typical instruction paired with one day in which the student explores his/her interests every week.
Denver Post. (2012, November 14). New Boulder school will serve students who have Asperger's Syndrome. http://www.denverpost.com/recommended/ci_17522642