(no subject)
I love working with my kids. Learning about autism is becoming a passion of mine and its interesting because it seems like everywhere I go people have stories or know someone who has autism. People constantly ask me about my kids when they find out what I do. They always ask questions like: 1. Are they like Rain Man? 2. Are any of them super geniuses? 3. Are they socially retarded and unresponsive to other people?
1. No, none of them are like rain man. My kids are people and like all people each one has a unique personality.
2. I do not believe that any of them are super geniuses and it is actually a common misconception that people who have autism are super smart. They take on intense interests in specific subjects so they might know a lot about Thomas the Train or farm animals. I think all of my kids are intelligent, they do work either at their grade level or above it for the most part and often the only thing standing in their way is their understanding of other people...
3. My students aren't socially retarded, they just have a different way of being in the world. They are visual thinkers as opposed to verbal thinkers like everyone else. For many of them, listening to a conversation is like talking on a cell phone with bad reception, they only receive every 3rd or 7th word. We must be visual in our communication with them, drawing pictures, writing words - showing them messages that do not vanish in an instant. They function so much better that way.
I have learned so much in the last few months through this incredible experience. Recently I have been contemplating grad school and my teaching certificate and now I am not sure if I want to do an M.A.T. in language arts or special ed. I love these kids, these genuine human beings who feel no desire to harm or manipulate others but rather they simply act as they feel. When I am able to make connections with them it is such a victory because then I know that they are learning and growing and I love being a part of that!
1. No, none of them are like rain man. My kids are people and like all people each one has a unique personality.
2. I do not believe that any of them are super geniuses and it is actually a common misconception that people who have autism are super smart. They take on intense interests in specific subjects so they might know a lot about Thomas the Train or farm animals. I think all of my kids are intelligent, they do work either at their grade level or above it for the most part and often the only thing standing in their way is their understanding of other people...
3. My students aren't socially retarded, they just have a different way of being in the world. They are visual thinkers as opposed to verbal thinkers like everyone else. For many of them, listening to a conversation is like talking on a cell phone with bad reception, they only receive every 3rd or 7th word. We must be visual in our communication with them, drawing pictures, writing words - showing them messages that do not vanish in an instant. They function so much better that way.
I have learned so much in the last few months through this incredible experience. Recently I have been contemplating grad school and my teaching certificate and now I am not sure if I want to do an M.A.T. in language arts or special ed. I love these kids, these genuine human beings who feel no desire to harm or manipulate others but rather they simply act as they feel. When I am able to make connections with them it is such a victory because then I know that they are learning and growing and I love being a part of that!