You can see a post about how I set up and organized my 2010-2011 Kindergarten Autism Support classroom here: http://christinamariablog.com/2010/11/welcome-to-my-classroom.html
I also wrote some posts about my experience with students with Autism through my “Autism Series”. Click on the following links to read about these incredible children who have taught me so much:
1. I am First and Foremost a Child
2. My Sensory Perceptions are Disordered
I am the mother (and now legal guardian, too) of a 25 y.o. young man with autism. I can’t tell you what it meant to me for E to have truly caring, dedicated teachers and others working with him through his 18 years of school. He started at 2 yrs, 9 mo., legal age to start in CT at the time, full days at a school specializing in kids on the spectrum and similar. I’ve learned how unusual it is for a district that refuses to make its teachers get up to speed to be willing to outplace our kids. This was a time when I was considered a horrible mother for excluding him. Well, including him here was a disaster when we tried it for K-1, back to outplacement. He worked for 14 mo. in a high stress Walgreens distribution center before he crumbled and we are now working with an autism program for adults that got its final approval just before budget cuts hit everywhere. My hat goes off to you and those like you. Where would we be without you? Where are you, BTW?
Janet
Janet – I don’t know if you understand how much I LOVE these comments! It does my heart well to hear this going into a new school year. I teach in a big public school district outside of Philadelphia, PA. I teach a class for kids with Autism, and we work on making them as successful as each of them can be in the regular education classrooms…really working individually with each student so they can grow and learn! I LOVE my students with all of my heart, and they’re the reason I put in the long hours for little pay! And hearing sweet things from people like you just reinforce what I already know. These kids are amazing…and they have so many gifts to share with the world. I just pray that people are ready to see those gifts without seeing what they think is a “disability” first.
Bless your heart. My oldest son has autism, and just began a instructional preK last month. I’m going to be following you along now, as we share so much of the same worlds…
Christina-
I recently started teaching at an autism school and I have 5 boys under my instruction and mine alone (two have a lot of out of class time though). I love the colored center/schedules and I would like to try something like this. Can you direct me to where you get some of your ideas for activities at? (My email is [email protected] if you have time to email me:) Thanks so much!
Amy
I really want to understand your schedule a little better. I like how it’s very organized. Ours seems to change too much and TAs really need to be on it, so there’s less confusion. I’ve sent multiple emails. Hope I didn’t offend in any way. Just really want to know more. 2 more days of school here in Texas and I’m already getting ready for the new year.