SPECIAL NEEDS ACCEPTANCE

MaryAnneSullivan-Scott

WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT

We all have different

skills that we are good

at, and other things that

are difficult for us.

I AM GOOD AT…

One thing that

I’m really good

at is ...

IT’S HARD FOR ME TO…

Something that is very

difficult for me is ...

HOW I FEEL…

When I can’t do

something very

well, I feel ...

SPECIAL NEEDS

People who have special

needs have challenges that

are extra-difficult for them.

SPECIAL NEEDS

Let’s take a look

at a few types

of special needs

and the

challenges they

present:

CEREBRAL PALSY

-may affect muscle control

or any of the 5 senses

CYSTIC FIBROSIS

-affects breathing and

energy

VISION IMPAIRED

-limited or no sight

HEARING IMPAIRED

-limited or no hearing

DOWN SYNDROME

-have an extra chromosome

that affects the way they grow

and learn

LEARNING DISABILITY

-an example of a Learning

Disability is Dyslexia

A sentenec mghit look tihs lkie

tehm to.

AUTISM

-affects the way the brain

works and how we react to

the world around us

Today, we are going to take

a closer look at AUTISM.

People with AUTISM are NOT

stupid, deaf, or wrong. They

are just different in some

ways.

Some of the things that are

easy for you-like talking,

learning, playing…

…and making friends, may

be very hard for some

people with

AUTISM……………

…and may be scary or

upsetting. One thing that

sometimes makes me

feel scared is …

People act differently when

they are upset. Some may

cry, get mad, and yell.

Others like to be quiet

and alone. When I’m

upset I usually ...

Can you name the 5 senses.

Some people with AUTISM

feel their senses very,

very strongly…

…and all the

information they

receive from their

senses can be very

overwhelming and

distracting.

Everyone settle and listen

to the soft, background

noises in your classroom.

Write down 1 noise that

you can still hear.

Now, imagine that

all the background noises

in your classroom are as

loud as the noises in the

cafeteria or gym…

…and you are trying to

complete a reading

assignment. Would the

reading assignment be

hard or easy for you to

complete?

How would that make you

feel?

That’s how it is all the time

for some people with

AUTISM.

Some people with AUTISM

have lots and lots of sights,

sounds, smells, tastes, and

touches that bother them

all the time.

How would you feel if

someone shined a

flashlight in your eyes?

Name 1 noise

that makes

you want to

cover your

ears.

What is your

least favorite

smell?

Sometimes things are

too hot, too cold, too

sharp, too slimy, or

too rough to touch.

What is something

you don’t like to

touch?

What food do

you never,

ever want too

eat?

Now, imagine all those

things you just thought

about occurred all day long.

How would

you feel?

Can you understand why

some people with AUTISM

seem upset, frustrated, or

overwhelmed at times?

Some people with AUTISM

may notice many, many

details; and may not like

clutter.

Now imagine

that you

studied for a

reading test

last night…

…and your teacher gave

you the test today but it

was written in German.

How would

you feel when

you tried to

take the test?

How do you

think you

would do on

that test?

Some people with AUTISM

become upset or nervous

when things change or

surprise them…

…sometimes they

will try to make

themselves feel

better by thinking

of something else,

or maybe even

somewhere else...

…other times they may

stim to feel more secure.

Stimming is repeated

movements, usually with

the hand(s).

Some people with AUTISM are

extremely uncomfortable with the

unexpected. Following a routine

schedule helps them

feel more comfortable.

Think about a

time when your

mom or dad

wasn’t able to

tuck you in at

night…

…or when the fire

alarm first goes

off, or even when

it is announced at

the end of the day

that there is a

change in your

bus number?

How do you feel when this

happens? Some people with

AUTISM feel this anxiety

with the slightest of

change in their daily life.

Some people

with AUTISM

play games

differently than

you.

How do you feel when your

friends play a game you

don’t like or aren’t good at?

Some people with

AUTISM do not talk.

Other times, they

may just repeat what

you say instead of

answering you.

Now, let’s imagine that you

are really, really sick but

you aren’t able to tell your

mom.

…what would

you do or how

would that

make you

feel?

Some people

with AUTISM

may not

understand

the way you

use certain

words.

They may think

the words or

expressions you

use, mean

exactly the way

they sound.

For example “that’s cool”…

…“can you

lend me a

hand?...”

“… or “what’s up?”.

Think about how we rely so

much on facial expressions

—

…your

teacher’s

glare when

she’s upset

with the

class…

that “look” your mom gives

you when you are not

behaving at church or at

the grocery store…

…or just a

simple

smile.

How would you feel if you

could not see or

understand a simple smile?

Some people with

AUTISM may not

understand facial

expressions, and

may not react to

your

conversation as

you may expect.

You may think

they are not

listening or

not interested

in what you

are saying.

Things to remember…

and…

and…

and…

and…

and…

Today, 1 in

68

children

have

Autism

according

to the

CDC.

Today, I hope you

have learned that

people with

AUTISM

are very

interesting and

they are very

brave to try hard

to do things we

take for

granted…

…and it’s very important to remember…

How can you be a better

friend to someone you

know who has AUTISM?

Here are a few helpful suggestions…

The End