ASD-S3: Demonstrates the ability to consistently use various visual strategies including environmental structuring, schedules, visual cues and social stories to communicate social information and expectations that support the student's learning as directed by licensed staff.

Introduction

Impairment in social interaction is a core feature of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Individuals with ASD have deficits in social cognition or the ability to interpret social cues and information. Due to impaired social abilities, individuals with ASD experience problems in areas that may include: learning to play with others; using and understanding nonverbal behaviors, such as facial expressions, tone of voice, or gestures to regulate social interaction; and sharing information and experiences. Typically, children learn social skills by observing the world around them, whereas individuals with ASD need more intense direct teaching to improve social understanding and learn social skills.

Information about current theories of ASD and their impact on social development will be presented in the first lesson of this unit. The remaining lessons will focus on describing strategies one can use with these students to help them improve their social understanding and develop social skills.

Objectives

As you read the objectives for this unit, think about and rate your current knowledge using the following scale.

1. I do not understand this.
2. I do understand this.
3. I understand this well enough to use in my work.
4. I could teach others about it and use it in my work.

Upon completion of this unit, you will:

• Understand that individuals with ASD have underlying neurological issues that impact their social skills development.
• Use a variety of strategies to organize the students’ environment to support success in social skills for the individuals with ASD.
• Use a variety of strategies to help individuals with ASD generalize social skills in differing environments.
• Use strategies to help individuals with ASD improve their social understanding.

The Para eLink is sponsored by the Minnesota Paraprofessional Consortium, in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Education, located at the Institute on Community Integration in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota.

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