New Kids on the Block: 

Educating Peers on Autism

Despite numerous snow days and delays, the second half of the school year is finally underway.   As many of the students we support participate in inclusive settings, we know that advanced preparation and ongoing planning can be key to their success.   Even with those pieces in place, the social interaction component can be a major stumbling block.  

If their typically developing peers are uninformed about autism, those behaviors associated with the disorder (e.g. flapping, not making eye contact, fixation on one topic) can be easily misinterpreted as "weird" or even unfriendly.  This has very real and potentially harmful consequences.  A 2012 Kennedy Krieger Institute report revealed that 63% of children with autism had been bullied at some point.

Parents, special educators and general education teams often ask about ways to discuss the child's differences (indeed their unique strengths and challenges) with peers in the classroom in order to establish an environment of shared cooperation and friendship.  We commend their interest, and given that there are so many opinions on the matter, we decided to devote this edition of our newsletter to a set of cutting edge resources which are "hot off the press" and sure to positively impact the special needs community.

In 2012, the Organization for Autism Research (OAR) created a Kit for Kids.   This resource, which has already been accessed by 12,000 students across the country is based upon a fold-out booklet called, "What's Up with Nick?" and includes a lesson plan and classroom poster.  In December, OAR added an animated web video and set of student activity workbooks.  The three-minute web video uses cartoon animation, sound, and color to capture children's attention, yet provides accurate autism information in a brief time window, using language kids can understand.  It addresses some of the behaviors and characteristics that may make Nick and other kids with autism seem "a little different." 

Whether used in conjunction with the hard copy Kit for Kids materials or simply as a conversation starter, the video is an especially effective tool in the classroom where students with autism are learning alongside their typically developing peers.  It is a great tool to help elementary and middle school students learn that while their classmates with autism may think differently or need special accommodations, they should be treated with the same respect as everyone else.

The activity workbooks expand upon the information in the "What's Up with Nick?" story and gives students a chance to engage with material they just learned in the peer education lesson.  OAR created workbooks for students in four different grade ranges:  K-1, 2-3, 4-5, and 6-8 to ensure appropriateness to grade level.  The workbooks feature word searches and matching exercises among other fun activities.  Younger students can even earn a printable certificate acknowledging their new knowledge. 

To access these amazing resources, go to OAR's Kit for Kids page.  To start a peer education initiative in your school community, contact Ben Kaufman, MSW at programs@researchautism.org.

We hope, like us, that you will find these resources to be valuable!  Along with OAR, we encourage you to spread the word on these tremendous resources which can benefit those we love and serve.

(We thank Ben Kaufman of OAR for his contributions to this newsletter!)