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| Teachers.Net Gazette Vol.6 No.7 | July 2009 |
You can make up all the checklists you want. You can take advice from your mentors. At the end of the day, what lies behind one's teaching style is what matters. A "Great Teacher" is the right teacher at the right time, at the right place.
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 Resources for Teaching Students with Autism A hefty collection of helpful links and references to help when you welcome an autistic child to your classroom. | |
| by National Hall of Fame Educator Alan Haskvitz www.reacheverychild.com/alan.html Regular contributor to the Gazette July 1, 2009 |
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 First, autism is a brain disorder that impairs the ability to communicate, socialize, and maintain what are considered normal relationships with others. Those with autism may have a varied level of skills and capacities and behaviors. Even the cause of Autism is not understood at this time although medications are prescribed to relieve symptoms. As such the teacher needs to treat every autistic diagnosed student as a distinct individual and take time to read the reports and be aware of any medications and possible side effects. The major problem when teaching several students with autism, besides the uneven development in learning, are the issues of classroom management, behavior, differentiated instruction, and even how to best use teaching aides. Finally, the teacher needs to be attuned to the type of medication the student may be using. A carefully developed Individualized Learning Plan is essential and meeting with the parents necessary for progress to be made consistently. Unfortunately, due to its nature, autism success stories are not easily duplicated. Because one method works in a certain instance does not make it transferable. The best idea I can recommend for teachers is to read widely from the resources below and glean those ideas that might be of significant value to students within that teacher’s realm of influence.
Here is a site to help with the writing of IEPs
The law and special education Some other sites that can provide valuable ideas and help Special education links  | |
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Alan Haskvitz teaches at Suzanne Middle School in Walnut, Calif., and makes staff development presentations nationwide. In addition, he serves as an audio-visual evaluator and design consultant for his county department of education; a tutor to multi-cultural students in English and art; and an Internet consultant.