Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

TOOL KI T
EDUC4709- Collaborative Considerations Café
Destiny R., Carissa P., Dayna A., Ashley H.

General Resources
ALBERTA EDUCATING
LEARN ALBERTA EDUCATION ABOUT ASD IN AN
Learn Alberta ASD This is the HUGE master INCLUSIVE
webpage, has lots of document from Alberta
CLASSROOM
guiding questions and Ed about teaching
strategies to support students with ASD- has Focus on inclusive
students with ASD in so much info, including classrooms by
the classroom instruction, planning, educating all students
inclusion, assessment, about ASD. Includes
etc. Includes 3 general prep questions that
case studies with help determine if the
documents (p. 139-170) approaches described
should be used in your
classroom

ASD- YOUR
SCHOOLS MODULE
This is a great website, ONTARIO
with so many modules RESOURCE GUIDE
all about ASD. WATERFORD.ORG
Similar to the Alberta
Comprehensive look
Ed document, this 15 strategies and
at differentiating
one is from Ontario. games for teaching
instruction for ASD,
Has some other students with ASD,
which can be helpful
examples and more can also be
for a whole classroom
in depth instructional implemented under
approach as well.
strategies that are UDL guidelines to
helpful. support all students.
 Emotional Intelligence
Strategies and Supports
PEER MODELLING EXPLICIT TEACHING/ CREATE A CARING
VIDEOS PRACTICE ENVIRONMENT
This can happen in Students with ASD This isn't necessarily
various different often need explicit an intervention, but if
contexts, but is teaching and you ensure a safe and
especially helpful when practice with social caring classroom
it comes to social skills skills. This is also space- where the
and EI. Peers model the helpful for students teacher is actively
appropriate social to identify emotions, displaying empathy,
behaviours in different and deal with them. and students are
situations showing care for each
IDENTIFY other, students with
FOLLOW A EMOTIONS WITH ASD are more likely to
STEP-BY-STEP FACIAL succeed.
APPROACH EXPRESSIONS SELF-TALK LESSONS
EI is best addressed This is linked to Teaching students
systematically; follow a modelling of social about how our
step-by-step approach skills/cues. It is thoughts affect the way
to using this as an important to teach we behave. You could
intervention. Tackle one students with ASD to use picture books, or
area at a time, then pick up on non-verbal explicit teaching to
move on. Explicit indicators in a social develop students
instruction, then peer situation. This involves understanding of self
therapy, modelling and recognizing emotions talk and the cause-
finally give space to based on facial effect relationship.
practice the social skills expressions of their
in the classroom peers.

MOOD METER PARENT TRAINING

Parent training is
This helps students to POSITIVE
extremely helpful to
identify emotions and
support students with REINFORCMENT
the feelings associated
ASD when developing EI
with those emotions, as
and social skills. This Positive reinforcement
well as giving strategies
allows the skills to be helps to motivate
to cope with those
practiced at home and students with ASD to
emotions.
school, consistenly. move towards more
positive behaviours.

EDUC4709- Collaborative Considerations Café

Destiny R., Carissa P., Dayna A., Ashley H.
 Social Emotional Learning
Strategies and Supports
FRIENDSHIP
SOCIAL STORIES GROUPS/ PEER SOCIAL AUTOPSY
Provides visual support MENTORING A problem solving
for students to navigate Developing friendship strategy to support
social situations/ groups within your social skill development;
interactions in various school normalizes students unpack social
parts of their day. social skill instruction, interactions and identify
Especially helpful for because as we know, areas of improvement
students with ASD to all students benefit and what to do in those
navigate their world, from this. Students situations. Encourages
while becoming aware with ASD are able to self-awareness and
of their actions. The link make connections with reflection.
below has TONS of their peers in a safe
social stories pre-made. space while developing
SEL skills.

SEL BUILDING
BLOCKS
The article below IDENTIFY EMOTIONS
NARRATING identifies 15 lessons to AND FACIAL
explicitly teach SEL
SOCIAL CUES skills for students with
EXPRESSIONS
Narrating social cues ASD. These are built This is VERY similar
helps students with ASD around the core to the strategy used
to become aware of the competencies of SEL, for EI. Part of SEL is
nonverbal cues that and designed in a way recognizing
exist within the that allows students emotions in yourself
classroom. Often times with ASD to seamlessly and others.
these students miss the transition from one
subtleties, but by grade to another with
verbally expressing cues
VISUAL SUPPORTS
the appropriate skills.
it allows them to Lessons include Some ASD students
become cognizant of listening, emotions, are non-verbal, so it
what is going on around actions and interacting is important to have
them. with others. communication
Ex. "Everyone should be strategies that allow
standing now..." for social interaction
in a positive way.

EDUC4709- Collaborative Considerations Café

Destiny R., Carissa P., Dayna A., Ashley H.
 Academic Supports
EDUCATE ALL
MULTI-SENSORY GOAL SETTING
STUDENTS
LEARNING
Educate other students in Setting attainable
Often, students with
the classroom about ASD, so goals for students
ASD have sensory
they can become familiar with ASD is
deficits and are easily
with and understand their incredibly beneficial
overloaded. By
classmate(s) who have to support
providing multi-
autism. Consider a lesson behavioural and
sensory learning
about ASD (consult parents academic needs. Be
opportunities it gives
of child with ASD first), and sure to set SMART
them various entry
then give students goals with the
points for success.
strategies to interact with students, not for the
the student so he/she feels students.
VISUAL welcome and cared for in
SUPPORTS the classroom
SOCIAL SKILL
Incorporate as many visual GAMES
supports into the
HANDS-ON
classroom space as Incorporate social skill
possible. This includes
INSTRUCTION/ games into the everyday
visual schedules, timers, ACTIVITIES interactions within your
instructions, and task classroom. These should
cards. These will all help Use a variety of hands become part of your
students to regulate on instructional classroom curriculum
themselves during strategies and activities and be worked into
transition and develop to involve students and various learning activities
organizational skills for get them moving. This that blend with learning
smoother movement interacts with multi- outcomes. Try games
throughout the day. sensory learning. Try to such as: the name game,
avoid a classroom "how would it feel if..."
heavy in pencil-to- and sharing circles. See
CHUNKING paper work. the Waterford link on
Strategically chunk page 1.
instructional material or INCORPORATE
activities. Give a clear STUDENT INTEREST SCAFFOLDING
beginning, middle and end
so students can follow Many students with ASD Make sure to build lessons
along, no matter how have intense interests in and instructions on-top of
developed their executive various topics. Try to each other. Don't give too
function is. This allows incorporate these much, otherwise it will be
students with ASD to keep interests into your too complex for students
track of what needs to be teaching to engage to follow. Ensure they
done and when. students. have skills necessary.

EDUC4709- Collaborative Considerations Café

Destiny R., Carissa P., Dayna A., Ashley H.
 Sensory Supports
MOVIN' SIT
CUSHIONS
These are wedge
shaped cushions, that
are slightly inflated
with air. These are
meant to sit on a
chair seat, and give
students movement
input.
VARIOUS SENSORY
ACTIVITIES
Incorporate many sensory
activities into the routine of
the day- exercise ball,
weighted vest/objects,
tummy time, etc.
THERABANDS
Therabands are useful
to use as a fidget for
students with sensory
issues, These can be
used in various ways,
the most popular is to
wrap them around the
two front legs of a
chair. This gives them
a foot fidget and
movement input.
MIDDLETOWN
CENTRE FOR AUTISM
This webpage has LOADS of
information on sensory
supports. QR code to the right.
SPECIFIC MAT/
AREA TO SIT
Give students a specific
area to sit- a spot or a
mat for circle time that is
in the same spot every
time. This gives students
a sense of consistency,
and allows them to
become accustomed to
the sensory inputs for a
given space.

Mental health/ Mood Supports

CALM PASSES
Calm passes can be used
in various ways. One of
the most common ways
to use these as a support
for ASD students is giving
them the opportunity to
develop a routine with
the teacher and use the
cards to indicate when
they might need a break
to avoid behavioural
challenges. These are
also known as "break
management techniques
cards"
built in (similar to above).
focused breathing, muscle
GROUNDING
CALMING
TECHNIQUES
STRATEGIES
Use various grounding
Have a wide variety
techniques to allow
of calming strategies
students to reflect on
built into the
what they are feeling
classroom. Give
and address those
students access to
things in a positive
various supports
way. Try incorporating
that they can access
mindfullness parcties.
on their own, or that
they can be directed
ANXIETY
too if necessary.
MANAGEMENT Include things like
Have various anxiety stress balls, therapy
balls, music, calming
bottles, sensory
You can use things like boards, etc.
relaxation, photos, etc.

EDUC4709- Collaborative Considerations Café

Destiny R., Carissa P., Dayna A., Ashley H.
 Books and Videos about ASD
THE GIRL WHO
ALL MY STRIPES BY TED TALKS
THOUGHT IN
DANIELLE ROYER
SO many great TED talks PICTURES BY JULIA
AND SHAINA about ASD from individuals FINLEY MOSCA
RUDOLPH who actually have it, and
researchers. This is just one
of many!
This girl is 16y/o with Autism,
and talks about how it has
impacted her imagination
SESAME STREET- and ability to live in the
OTHER ASD
MEET JULIA, A world! Only 6 min long.. LITERATURE...
FRIEND WITH See this link for an
annotated list of picture
AUTISM
books about ASD.

Game and Activity Ideas

SENSORY
USE VARIOUS SIMULATION WISDOM- APP
This website gives different
TYPES OF GAMES
sensory overload This is an augmented
simulations. Will help you reality app for learning
Use many different
better understand what social skills.
types of games within
students experience. It is recommended for
your classroom, for
free time and within ages 4-8 and can be
the curriculum. Use found on the apple or
different games such android app store.
as physical games, There is a free version
or a full version that
board games, card AUTISM AND
games, etc. This costs $35/year.
VIDEO GAMES
supports multi-sensory This article talks about
learning in the the impact of video
classroom. games and ASD. Good
conversation-starter.

EDUC4709- Collaborative Considerations Café

Destiny R., Carissa P., Dayna A., Ashley H.
 PLEASE NOTE:
This toolkit is NOT an inclusive
list of ALL strategies.
These are just a few we have
found, as well as some other
web pages that will be helpful
for you to reference if you are
teaching students with ASD or
looking to develop your
general knowledge.
Please keep in mind that some
of these strategies can be used
as a whole-class approach to
support more than just ASD
learners.
We hope this is helpful for you!

EDUC4709- Collaborative Considerations Café

Destiny R., Carissa P., Dayna A., Ashley H.
 Resource Links
(if you don't have QR code capabilities)
General Resources
Learn Alberta
https://www.learnalberta.ca/content/inmdict/html/autism.html
Alberta Education
https://education.alberta.ca/media/385138/teaching-students-with-
asd-2003.pdf
Educating about ASD in an Inclusive Classroom
http://www.gov.pe.ca/photos/original/ed_autisminc.pdf
ASD- Your Schools Module
http://asd.yourschools.ca/differentiated-instruction/
Ontario Resource Guide
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/general/elemsec/speced/autismspecd
is.pdf
Waterford.org https://www.waterford.org/education/15-activities-
teaching-strategies-and-resources-for-teaching-children-with-
autism/
Emotional Intelligence Strategies and Supports
Self-Talk Lessons https://positivepsychology.com/teaching-
emotional-intelligence/
Mood Meter
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/mar2017/teaching-
emotional-intelligence
Social Emotional Learning Strategies and Supports
Social Stories https://www.abaresources.com/social-stories/
Social Autopsy https://autismclassroomresources.com/social-
autopsy/
SEL Building Blocks
https://jayscholar.etown.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?
article=1019&context=edstu
Sensory Supports
Middletown Centre for Autism https://sensory-
processing.middletownautism.com/

EDUC4709- Collaborative Considerations Café

Destiny R., Carissa P., Dayna A., Ashley H.
 Resource Links Continued
(if you don't have QR code capabilities)
Books and Videos about ASD
All my Stripes by Danielle Royer & Shaina Rudolph
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gaLxpifMcQ
The Girl Who Thought in Pictures by Julia Finley Mosca
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfyn0vZrgDI
TED Talks
https://www.ted.com/talks/rosie_king_how_autism_freed_me_to_be_
myself
Sesame Street- Meet Julia
https://autism.sesamestreet.org/video/meet-julia/
Other ASD Literature https://childmind.org/blog/best-picture-books-
about-autism/
Game and Activity Ideas
Use Various Types of Games
https://blog.stageslearning.com/blog/12-popular-games-adapted-for-
children-with-autism
Sensory Simulation https://thenextweb.com/insider/2016/07/17/can-
now-experience-feels-like-autism/#gref
Wisdom App https://betterkids.education/#social-emotional-
learning-through-play
Autism and Video Games https://tocaboca.com/magazine/autism-
video-games/

EDUC4709- Collaborative Considerations Café

Destiny R., Carissa P., Dayna A., Ashley H.