autism/disability awarenes programs | Autism PDD

I think everyone should except others as they are. Yes this needs to happen.

I think it would be fantastic! I wanted to do something similar when Zach was in 4th grade (just talking to his class), but he didn't want it done. Then in 5th grade he blurted it out one day. It turned out to be a nightmare. The teacher argued with him about what autism was and that he couldn't use it as an excuse. I could go on and on about how bad this situation was and got. AWFUL!! and part of the reason why I think Zach has such an aversion to being autistic and "different".

Anywho, I hope that you will do that because I think it is a great way to handle it. It's so needed in the schools now. I've been talking to Zach's special ed teacher about doing it at the middle school. Not sure how we'll get it done though.

I'm sorry to hear that it was a nightmare Jenny. I worry that it would backfire if I ask his school to do it.

momof139382.7171875I am considering talking to the principal at Quinn's school about having an autism/disability awareness program or assembly for NT classmates in all grades.

Have any of your children's schools done this? momof139382.7012268519I think  it is a great thing.  If you get kids in elementary to accept disabilities you have a higher chance they will remember it for all of their school years.  If the school is willing I would say have at it.  I know the school that my son is does something similar but we haven't been in the school district long enough to know what they do.  Good luck I hope they will do it.Thank you both ...I think it could help. Most kids are good about Quinn being different, but there are still a few that need need to be informed.

Jenny~ I like your idea about giving his teachers each a bio and lots of info.momof139382.8738541667

[QUOTE=momof1]I'm sorry to hear that it was a nightmare Jenny.

Thanks! It was a hard lesson that we learned. We will now forever more make sure each teacher has a "bio" at the beginning of the year. This year I made up a folder chock full of information about Zach and ASD for each of his teachers.

I firmly believe things would have been different if it would have been handled the way you are suggesting. Perhaps even some of the kids in his class could have taken on the 5th grade teacher when he was arguing with Zach about autism. I am a strong believer that knowledge is power and we need to get these classmates while they're young to understand and accept differences.

I really think you have a great idea!

I'm considering telling my son's class about his autism, so it will be interesting to hear other people's experiences with this.  I like the idea of making a video, since the format holds kids' interest and can be shown to each class so everyone gets the same information.

Here's a collection of online resources for teaching kids about autism (can be used for siblings, classmates, or children with autism).

http://www.autism-pdd.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=15359&am p;PN=1&TPN=1

Good luck with everything.

Thank you for the helpful links NorwayMom....you always have great links.

I'm hooking up my new printer tonight so that I can print some information to share with the principal, in hopes that having info to present to him will make him take me seriously.We brought Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) into school AND daycare so that they could educate the general public and newer teachers/counselors on different behaviors. I went to the one at the daycare (there were 5 other auties there at the time - Payne is the only one now) so that the instructor could say something and I could relate it to what they see in Payne too...she didn't want to personalize it to him and then they asked all kinds of questions to me (about home life, etc) and to her about numbers...what should they do in____ situation. IT WAS GREAT!
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