What Is Autism? Autism affects the way a person’s brain and body works. It is not a disease and is not contagious. You cannot catch autism from a classmate or friend. A person with autism may have a hard time commu¬nicating with other people, making friends, or following directions. However, with the help of teachers, classmates, families, and friends, children with autism often can find it easier to learn in spite of these challenges. How Do Kids with Autism Act? Children with autism may act in some unusual ways. Some may have difficulties with certain activities, but they may have strengths in other areas. For instance, a child with autism may be a math whiz, a great artist or unbeatable at computer games. Still, they may have trouble putting their thoughts into words or understanding what you say. Some children with autism prefer that schedules stay the same or that people always sit in the same seats. They may have a difficult time when things change. Changes may be scary for them, so they may try telling others what to do or where to sit. You may think they are being “bossy” but it is really them trying to adjust to the changes. When schedules change and they do not know what is coming next, they can be very upset, sad or angry. Why Do They Act This Way? Some children with autism do not see, hear, or feel things the same way we do. For instance, the sound of the school bell or the noise of a parade may hurt their ears. Some may have trouble eating certain foods because of the way they taste. Others may be very sensitive to certain smells. Smells you like, such as cookies baking, may make them feel sick. On the other hand, things that bother most of us, like a bee sting, may not appear to be as painful to them. It is hard for some children with autism to understand what we say or what our facial and body expressions mean. For example, if you are frowning or showing an angry expression on your face, your classmate with autism may not be able to understand that you are angry. However, this does not mean you should stop trying to talk to them. Sometimes showing them a picture or an object helps them understand things better. For example, if you are talking about baseball, pointing to a baseball card or a bat may help your friend know what you mean. Just because someone with autism may not be able to use words, it does not mean he can’t under¬stand your words. Please talk to him as you do with your other friends. Like all people, sometimes kids with autism can get frustrated and angry but they often cannot tell us why. Instead of words, they may use actions to express their feelings. When they are upset, confused, or bored, they may make noises or spin around. When they are excited or happy, they may flap their hands, jump up and down, or run in circles. Or they may do all these things at once to help them calm down. Many children with autism get upset when their surroundings or schedules change because new or different things can be very difficult or scary for them. They may cry or hold their hands over their ears. How Can I Be a Friend To Someone with Autism? When you become a friend to a person with autism, you both learn a lot from each other. Here are some ideas that can help you be a better friend to a kid with autism: • Accept your friend’s differences. • Know that some kids with autism are really smart, just in a different way. • Protect your friend from things that bother him or her. • Talk in small sentences with simple words and use simple gestures like pointing. • Use pictures or write down what you want to say to help your friend understand. • Join your friend in activities that interest him or her. • Be patient – understand that your friend doesn’t mean to bother you or others. • Wait - give him or her extra time to answer your question or complete an activity. • Invite your friend to play with you and to join you in group activities. Teach your friend how to play by showing him or her, what to do in an activity or game. • Sit near your friend whenever you can, and help him or her do things if they want you to. • Never be afraid to ask your teacher questions about your classmates with autism. • Help other kids learn about autism. Comments are closed.
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WVCSD Elementary school counselingJeanette Myrick, Children Learn What They Live Archives
May 2017
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