Intellectual Disability:

Autism
Kaitlin Bailey & Marcus Reveles
What is Autism?
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range
of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills,
repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. According
to the Centers for Disease Control, autism affects an estimated 1 in
54 children in the United States today.*

*Autism Speaks
Fast Facts on Intellectual Disabilities
● 1-3% of the global population has an intellectual disability. As many
as 200 Million people.*
● Children with Intellectual disabilities may develop slower than other
children such as talking, walking, and taking care of themselves.**
● Intellectual disability can be caused by a problem that starts any
time before a child turns 18 years old – even before birth. It can be
caused by injury, disease, or a problem in the brain. For many
children, the cause of their intellectual disability is not known.

* Special Olympics

**DoSomething.Org

*** CDC
Autism
What autism is like
https://youtu.be/0idZghw97dc
WHat does Autism (ASD) look like?
● Displays no or fleeting eye contact
● Difficulty initiating and maintaining conversation
● Difficulty understanding verbal and non-verbal communication
● Preference to play alone at home and at recess
● The child may experience sensory challenges, and will be either over- or
under-sensitive to temperature, texture, smell, or sound.
● Some children really enjoy spinning their bodies in circles. Other
children engage in full or partial body rocking. Children will sometimes
run in ritualized patterns on the playground or in the home. They may walk
on their toes or flap their hands. At times, they may flick their fingers or
cross them in unusual ways.
Strengths in Autism
Intelligence, Special Interest, Memory

● Average to very high intelligence

● Propensity to think outside the box and generate novel solutions to problems
● Ability to absorb and retain large amounts of information, especially about topics of
special interest.

Detail-oriented

● Ability to notice small details of an idea, theory, number pattern, book, film, object
or visual image.
● Ability to perform repetitive tasks where accuracy, rules and routine are important.
● Strong work ethic; commitment to quality and accuracy of work.

Fair and Just

● Tendency to be unconventional, open-minded, and tolerant.

● Tendency to relate to and defend animals.
● Advocate for the underdog, victims of bullying or member of an oppressed group.
Famous people with autism Temple Grandin
Albert Einstein

Thomas Jefferson
Bill Gates
Scenario Example
During Recess, Jake (Age 7) likes to play by himself under
the jungle gym. He has a hard time talking with his peers
and doesn't understand games like “Cops and Robbers.” He
gets frustrated when the other kids laugh really loud and
cover his ears. In class he doesn’t like to look back at the
teacher.
Scenario Analysis
● Not understanding “Cops and Robbers”: Students with
Autism often take scenarios and “pretend” literally.
● Students who show covering eyes and ears are reacting to
a sensory overload in their environment.
● Students with Autism have a tendency to play by
themselves because they have a hard time understanding
their peers and could lack social skills.
● Eye contact can make an Autistic student feel
uncomfortable.
Visuals that support autism
How to work with autism
A child with autism needs extra time to process language: Use simple
instructions and be straightforward. Too many word can confuse a student and
be counterproductive to the whole party.

Receptive language and expressive language are two different things: A student
might have a good understanding of a subject but not able to express it. Or a
student might be able to recite information without having full comprehension
of it.

A child with autism may need help with social interactions: A classroom is an
environment a parent cannot create at home so as a teacher, it is important to
teach social skills in the classroom as well.

Autism is a huge spectrum: Students and kids with autism are not all the same.
They can lie anywhere in a large spectrum and have different ways of thinking
and acting so it is important not to treat every kid who has autism the same
way.
Beware of Bullies
Resources for teachers
https://www.autismspeaks.org/blog/12-things-id-teachers-understand-about-autism: Autism
Speaks gives tips on how to work with students who are on the spectrum.

https://www.accreditedschoolsonline.org/resources/support-students-with-autism/: Accredited
Schools Online provides the rights of students with disabilities and
statistics to show average behavior and tendencies about students with
Autism.

https://www.waterford.org/education/15-activities-teaching-strategies-and-resources-for-teaching-c
hildren-with-autism/: This website gives actual activities, games, and
practices that teachers can use with their students to better connect.
Resources for parents
https://www.autismspeaks.org/tool-kit/parents-guide-autism

Here you can find a free download of A Parents Guide to Autism from
AutismSpeaks.org. In which there are personal stories, frequently asked
questions are answered, and learn that you are not alone.

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/autism-learning-disabilities/helping-your-child-with-autism-thrive.htm

Here you can learn how to let your child with autism thrive through showing
support and developing a treatment plan.

https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=family-support-for-autism-spectrum-disorder-160-24

Here parents can find organizations that help support them with their child.
Works Cited
https://www.specialolympics.org/about/intellectual-disabilities/what-is-intellectual-disability

https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-mental-disability

https://www.autismspeaks.org/autism-statistics?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlo_EgN-T6QIV4pJbCh15dg6REAAYASAAE
gL-OfD_BwE

https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/developmentaldisabilities/facts-about-intellectual-disability.html

https://youtu.be/0idZghw97dc

https://www.aane.org/asperger-profile-strengths/
Works Cited
https://www.autismspeaks.org/blog/12-things-id-teachers-understand-about-autism

https://www.nationalautismcenter.org/autism/what-does-autism-look-like/

https://www.accreditedschoolsonline.org/resources/support-students-with-autism/

https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=family-support-for-autism-spectrum-disorder-160-24

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/autism-learning-disabilities/helping-your-child-with-autism-thrive.htm

https://www.autismspeaks.org/tool-kit/parents-guide-autism