WEBVTT 00:00:04,818 --> 00:00:12,577 Every child or student with autism has their own unique profile consisting of different interests, strengths, needs, and challenges. 00:00:12,577 --> 00:00:16,079 Let’s briefly meet four autistic students. 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:23,754 Noah is a curious and caring three-year-old. He loves rainbows and playing with his toy cars and magnets. Although he primarily 00:00:23,754 --> 00:00:31,342 communicates his wants and needs verbally, his speech varies in pitch, volume, and speed, which sometimes makes it difficult for 00:00:31,342 --> 00:00:39,728 others to understand him. This can lead to frustration for both Noah and those around him. Noah is very social, but he occasionally 00:00:39,728 --> 00:00:47,529 struggles to tell whether his peers want to play with him. As a result, he often ends up playing alone. He is also sensitive to 00:00:47,529 --> 00:00:57,162 certain textures, particularly with his food and toys, as well as loud noises. To self-regulate, Noah sings familiar songs when upset 00:00:57,162 --> 00:01:00,081 and flaps his arms when excited. 00:01:00,081 --> 00:01:09,470 Rogan is an extraverted and animated elementary school student. He loves carousels, telling jokes, dancing, and playing tennis. 00:01:09,470 --> 00:01:18,183 Rogan enjoys school, especially math. His spelling skills and reading fluency are on grade level, but he experiences some challenges with 00:01:18,183 --> 00:01:27,315 reading comprehension and word problems. Rogan is very social and loves attention. Because of this, he sometimes blurts out in class 00:01:27,315 --> 00:01:35,826 and demands his parents’ attention when they focus on his siblings. He occasionally engages in challenging behaviors, such as refusing 00:01:35,826 --> 00:01:41,373 to comply with tasks or arguing, particularly when he feels frustrated. 00:01:41,373 --> 00:01:50,632 Evelyn is a creative, quirky, and caring middle school student. She loves sharks, playing the trumpet, and writing poetry. She becomes 00:01:50,632 --> 00:01:58,640 overwhelmed when routines change, and the anxiety she experiences sometimes results in her yelling, throwing items, or engaging in 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:07,149 self-injurious behaviors, such as pulling her hair, picking her skin, and hitting her head. Although Evelyn communicates verbally, 00:02:07,149 --> 00:02:16,160 she finds it helpful to type on a tablet or to text when she experiences intense emotions. Evelyn is often in constant motion, displaying 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:24,290 repetitive body movements such as hand flapping and leg bouncing. Although she enjoys her mom’s hugs, she dislikes being touched by 00:02:24,290 --> 00:02:33,593 others. She also becomes easily overstimulated and anxious in loud environments, crowded spaces, places with bright lights, and when 00:02:33,593 --> 00:02:42,225 around certain smells. Evelyn has difficulty building new friendships and benefits from support in social situations. 00:02:42,225 --> 00:02:51,988 Finally, Joseph is a quiet and kind high school student. He loves cartoons and movies and has an exceptional memory that allows him 00:02:51,988 --> 00:03:00,951 to categorize movies by release year or production studio. Joseph is independent with daily living tasks—such as dressing, bathing, 00:03:00,951 --> 00:03:10,506 and completing household chores—and takes public transportation to school on his own each day. He benefits from communication supports, 00:03:10,506 --> 00:03:18,676 sometimes needing his mom to clarify what he says or using technology to express himself. His communication challenges often affect his 00:03:18,676 --> 00:03:27,855 level of interaction with peers, which is an area of concern for his mom. When excited, Joseph repeats certain phrases or rocks back 00:03:27,855 --> 00:03:33,527 and forth, and he is sensitive to loud noises and certain tones. 00:03:33,527 --> 00:03:41,035 All of these children have been identified as having autism. Although you might have noticed some similarities in their needs and behaviors, 00:03:41,035 --> 00:03:44,833 you probably noticed a number of differences as well. 00:03:44,833 --> 00:03:46,959 Here’s your Challenge: 00:03:46,959 --> 00:03:52,588 What is autism and what are the characteristics associated with it? 00:03:52,588 --> 00:03:57,054 What should educators consider when working with students with autism?