Autism for the “Real World”

Helping Teach “Outsiders” How to Understand Autism

Trisha Page – State Autism Coordinator –ND DHS

About me:

Mom of 4 boys –

oldest diagnosed with ASD at 2 (now 13)

A.D.D. – PLEASE bear with me and

nobody say “Squirrel!”

From MN, married a ND man…

Scandinavian and Icelandic

Married a Marine w/German roots

“Stubborn” is why we still live in ND

Winters, floods, and wind… OH MY!

Culture shock or ASD?

Consider this: Can you easily understand new info?

Advocacy Efforts There is a need to teach the general population

about the CULTURE of ASD as we teach

individuals with ASD the neuro-typical cultures, rules, and protocols.

Seize opportunities to teach others what

autism FEELS like… it sticks better than words.

(Use Disclaimers!)

LEARN and KNOW YOUR AVAILABLE NETWORKS

Make it COUNT!

Talk to EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE.

Taskforce meetings, IEPs, Scouts,

classrooms Legislature, Church, School

Boards, PTO, daycare, PD/FD…

Start or connect with advocacy and

awareness efforts (Mere Exposure Effect)

Keep info cards handy and start autism

awareness/acceptance movements

Support Groups

VS.

Collaborative

Groups Support groups can become

a downward spiral

Focus is on problems

more than solutions

A networking opportunity with support AND learning goals!

Teaching advocacy

Learning about relevant issues

Supporting others

Connecting and networking

Make deficits into “strengths”

The SUPER POWERS of AUTISM

Individuals with autism have more brain cells

that are active (they use more of their brains

than the average person)

Often times people with autism can see, hear,

smell, taste, and feel things more intensely

than most.

10,000 bits of information per second…

Less than 10% of our brain is actively engaged

Let’s talk about WHAT to teach

Show what Autism LOOKS LIKE No outward differences

Individuals with autism look just like anyone else

Different way of looking at the world and

the people/things in it.

Because of the way the brain of someone with

autism works, they see, hear, taste, feel, and smell

things differently.

Who is suspected to HAVE (had) ASD?

• Albert Einstein

• Amadeus Mozart

• Sir Isaac Newton

• Charles Darwin

• Thomas Jefferson

• Michelangelo

• Hans Christian Andersen

• Andy Warholl

• Emily Dickinson

• Temple Grandin

• Bill Gates

• Dan Aykroyd

• Courtney Love

• Jason McElwain

• Jacob Barnett (5 min)

Teach what it feels like to have

hyper-sensitivity

Brainstorm! How do you now cope?

No PT/OT/SLP/Para

Get online for resources

Autism Internet Modules

Texas Statewide Leadership for Autism Training

Joke around??

Get mad and walk out??

Shut down and stop talking??

Try and figure out what others are doing…

Grab-bag people, open your bags and pull out the

instructions. Don’t show to anyone else.

Let the REAL games begin…

A “taste” of autism

Who likes chocolate?

A “simple” pop quiz

Are distractions really that big of a

deal for people with ASD?

Basic conversations

Look at your neighbor’s shoes and

cover your ears and tell your neighbor

the best part about your summer.

How does Autism FEEL??

Sick?

Irritated?

Enlightened?

How long will it last? An hour?

A day?

A lifetime?

Discussion Question

Thinking about what we were

all just exposed to, what are

three changes that you can

make in your interactions with

the individuals with ASD in your

lives that will change things for

the better???