Teachers can be great allies in keeping your child with autism safe and successful in school, but you'll need to make sure they have all the knowledge they need to help. Use these suggestions to create a information packet to bring educators up to speed.
Five Things Teachers Need to Know
1. My child needs structure and routine in order to function. Please try to keep his world as predictable as possible.
2. If there will be any sort of change in my child's classroom or routine, please notify me as far in advance as possible so that we can all work together in preparing her for it.
3. Teaching strategies intended for children with autism will help my child learn better and make him easier for you to deal with.
4. My child is an individual, not a diagnosis. Please be alert and receptive to the things that make her unique and special.
5. Please keep the lines of communication open between our home and the school. My child needs all the adults in her life working together.
Printouts to Share with Teachers
FEAT Handbook for Teachers (pdf)
Source: Families for Early Autism Treatment
Fact Sheet: Autism Spectrum Disorders {pdf)
Source: National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Handbook (pdf)
Source: University of South Dakota
Teaching Tips for Children and Adults with Autism by Temple Grandin
Source: Indiana Resource Center for Autism
Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Resource Pack for School Staff
Source: The National Autistic Society
