What is the best way to work with autistic kids?

Question

I have been wanting to work with autistic kids since my current age, 13. I want to teach special ed., but specifically work with autistic kids.

Answer 1

It is wonderful that you want to work in special ed, especially with autistics!

Here are some things you can do as a teenager to prepare:

Read as much as you can about autism, and other special needs.

Contact the autism parent community in your area and explain who you are, what you have been learning, and that you would like to offer yourself as a babysitter. Show you are serious by being able to give some basic information on autism, sensory integration dysfunction, TEACCH, PECS, Applied Behavior Analysis... and other programs and vocabulary.

Offer to do volunteer work for that parent support group over the summer.

Check with your high school about students as teachers' assistants for single class periods. Ask to have one of your electives be as a teachers' assistant in the self-contained and/or autism programs. Be sure to have discussed this with the teacher in question, first... show what you know, explain your interest, etc.

When you are in your junior/senior years of high school, and in college, work as a summer camp counselor at autism summer camps, and as a volunteer in autism programs both in schools and in your community.

After you graduate high school:

If you have kept your grades up, you can apply to one of the better autism training colleges:

http://edpsych.ed.sc.edu/pse/programs.html

http://www.teacch.com/

Or you can train at your nearest teaching college special education department, making sure to grab lots of human development, psychology, and behavioral courses.

While you are getting your college degree, apply to work as a teacher's assistant or substitute teacher with your nearby school district. That experience can make a huge difference when you finally get your license and your own classroom.

Here's a place or two to start your reading:

http://www.autismweb.com/education.htm

http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/autism.index.htm

Answer 2

I would recommend volunteering at local schools/ programs. There are several different methods for intervention but first you need to observe in the field. Contact local autism networks - they will tell u about local programs.

I work with autistic children from birth to age 5 -

Answer 3

As a mom with an autistic child i would say you need alot of patiance. Understand that these kids and adults have such a focuse on there particular interst that they can have an area that they can excell in insuch a wonderful way that it is exciting. Yet to try to get them to learn other things can be extremlly hard and close to impossible

Answer 4

Do some research on your own. You can probably volunteer if you find a local program for children with autism. But if you are looking for practical experience, my best advice at your age is to find a family to babysit for. (Are you in Utah? I am always looking lol) Anyway you can learn a lot about autism from parents and those who care for children with autism. Just remember autism is a spectrum disorder, so every child can be quite different.

Answer 5

That's very admirable, I would suggest that you contact:
http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer

By the way, my brother-in-law is autistic.

Answer 6

There are varying degrees of Autism, the spectrum is vast, do a bit of research online first.

Answer 7

How old are you now