#autistic learning

Cultivating the Seeds of Self Regulation

Kids with autism cannot be expected to self regulate emotions until we teach the skills needed to do so. But don’t get too excited. Our work is not over once the “content has been covered.” I suppose that it true for all teaching. Deep learning needs far more than coverage of skills. To learn a skill well enough to be able to use it under stress and in different situations, we have to have a…

Hello everyone! As some of you might know I'm working with Eureka, the National Children's Museum, on putting together a new exhibit on sustainability and green issues. We're looking into the feasibility of building up the exhibit from the point of view of children on the autistic spectrum. The museum has recently (in the last three years) been putting together a lot of resources and clubs to enable children on the spectrum to access and enjoy the current displays, and now they'd like to build that suitability in from the ground up.

So why am I telling you this?

Well, I'm looking to interview (or just chat, if you don't want to be formally recorded) anyone who feels they have an interest in this area - that could be adults on the spectrum, professionals, parents/friends etc - especially anyone who also feels that they have an interest in the issue of global sustainability and how best to communicate that.

So, if you have any comments - any comments at all, even if it's "Dude that's totally not gonna work and this is why" (actually especially if that's your comment!) - please message me and we can set things up. :)

This is your chance to really affect what happens at the National Children's Museum in the next few years! Let's make it good. :)

(A few notes:

 This is the UK museum

The age range is 0 -11

No, I don’t work there - I’m just a postgrad student and they’re very kindly letting me submit this report to them as part of my studies.

Any mistakes and misinformation I make/give at any time should be considered my responsibility and not reflective of Eureka’s staff or policies.

Directives From the Spectrum: If You Want Me to Learn, Enter My World First

I am different. I sense things differently. I enjoy things that seem odd or weird to you. My inner world is far more wonderful than you choose to believe. It can’t be…..you think… because it is not like yours.

I know that I must exist in “your” world. I will concede because I am outnumbered. However, I question your methods for teaching me howto be in your world. Must you begin where I am…

Directives From the Spectrum: If You Expect It, Teach It.

Johnny needs to learn to self- regulate. Billy needs to control his emotional outbursts.

Goals such as these produce  burning questions in my mind:

How exactly will this happen? Why has it not already?

Don’t get me wrong. I am all for developing goals around the development of self -regulation and emotional control for our students with autism. But, too often, I find myself wondering why we leave…

But I Don’t WANT to Go Back to Work!

The holidays are over and the first Monday back to work was an enormous transition for me – and probably many others! I seriously considered heaving the alarm clock into oblivion when it rudely jerked me awake at 6 a.m. and annoyingly reminded me that work awaited. I tried to pretend it was a dream. Next, I convinced myself that 5 more minutes in bed was not going to throw off my day.

It did.…

Coping with Autism’s Rough Patches

WHY? Why is he doing that? What prompted this new behaviour? How should I respond? What am I supposed to do about it?

When working with a child with autism, have you ever felt like you were losing any semblance of control? Do you notice yourself nagging, begging and chasing a child? Are you wondering what you are doing wrong?

I hear you. You want answers. You need solutions.

I have bad news.…