April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Month.
Teaching children with special needs is a very rewarding profession, as is teaching all children. I have been fortunate in my career to work with a number of children who were (and still are) on the autism spectrum.
The rate of autism in children continues to grow – according to a recent CBS news release, 1 out of every 88 children has an autism spectrum disorder. The rate is higher among boys (1 out of every 54) and varies from location to location. The CBS report is based on a study by the CDC.
Teaching today involves working with a variety of learning styles and needs. Our learners are more complex than ever, and children with autism spectrum disorder provide unique challenges for families, teachers, support staff and schools. I firmly believe that children with autism provide great benefits to a school.
One of my favourite things in public education is that we are open to all children, and have passionate people who are dedicated to optimizing learning experiences for children with special needs. I have been witness to children we were told were non-verbal reading the alphabet out loud – I still have a video of a little girl reading her letters and rearranging them into the proper order. I have been witness to a child learning to use an iPad to communicate with staff. I have been witness to positive social activities involving children with autism and their classroom peers. I have been witness to staff and parents being amazed at what children with autism can accomplish.
On Monday, I will take time from my day to reflect on the many children with autism I have had the privilege to have come in contact with over my 20+ years of teaching. I will think about all the challenges that they face in their daily lives, as well as the challenges that their families face. I will also smile as I remember the many successes that these children have accomplished.
One success story from the United States that I think people should hear is an interview with Dr. Temple Grandin, an associate professor of animal science at Colorado State University. Click here to hear an interview with Dr. Grandin about her experiences with autism. Thanks to Gowa Kong for tweeting this link.
Learn More about Autism
Autism Speaks is a very good source of information on autism and would be a good place to visit if you want to learn. Their page, What is Autism?, provides an excellent overview of autism spectrum disorder.
Take care.