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Autism Reflection Paper

Decent Essays

As an educator, it is so crucial to have a strict mindset in regard to teaching students with cognitive, behavioral and/or physical health disabilities. During one of the fist lectures of this class, we learned that children with exceptionalities differ in many different characteristics and that one in ten children have exceptionalities. I have gained so much respect for teachers who go above and beyond to meet the specific needs of a child and while observing this classroom I really feel as if that is exactly what this teacher has done. I had observed a child with autism in a 2nd grade classroom at MaST Community Charter School. In just a short period of time, I learned so much from him and he will always be in my memory as I go throughout my journey to become a teacher.
When I first walked into the classroom, it was exactly how I expected it to be: very colorful, covered in the children’s’ own work and helpful strategies for the students to use. The desks were set up in groups of four or five with all of them facing one another. There were two huge white boards and a smart board as well that the students and the teacher could interact with. The child I was specifically observing has an IEP and has been diagnosed with Autism. Although mild, he does need some help to complete the daily tasks expected of him on a typical classroom day.
An inclusive classroom is one of the most important aspects a teacher can provide to a student with a disability. According to IDEA, it is “required that students with disabilities be educated with students without disabilities, have access to the core curriculum to the maximum extent possible, and be removed from the classroom only to the extent their disability necessitates” (Heward et. All, 2017, p. 172). For a child with autism, inclusion is especially important. ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) causes impairment in communication, social interaction, and behavior. For this particular child I observed, he was only mildly affected. It is important to keep in mind that there is no single behavior that is always typical of autism. According to the intervention hierarchy for RTI, 80%-90% of the classroom should be Universal Interventions: All settings, all students, preventative,

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