If you have met one child with autism, you have met ONE child with autism. Their abilities are endless and can never be underestimated. However, it is often hard to determine how much they know due to communication and sensory barriers.
My students are part of a self contained autism program to better meet their individual needs.
Many of my students can communicate verbally, but have difficulty learning socially acceptable cues and behaviors. They work on academic skills at their level of success and make progress toward new skills each day. Their highest motivators involve some form of technology, and with these reinforcers their attention to academic tasks increase. I am able to get a better understanding of what my students comprehend when technology is used.
My Project
My classroom is structured into three zones where an adult (teacher or aide) works with the students on academic and functional goals. With three rotations in each zone my students get time for one on one instruction and time to learn independent tasks. I will use these tablets to teach new skills through communication apps and apps specifically designed to teach children with autism reading, writing, and math. Not only are these apps fun for the kids, but many of the apps track data which makes paper work "fun" for me. I will be able to quickly save and utilize the data to effectively develop each child's individual education goals. I would also like to use the tablets in small group settings, specifically when my students are in transitional "wait" time. I would be able to use this as an opportunity to keep my students engaged in calendar skills, increase story awareness with digital read aloud books, and decrease behaviors that are often more intense during waiting time.
With your donation my students will have an increased motivation for working on academic skills, which will expose the knowledge with in each of my amazing students.
They will have access to the world around them and be able to overcome their communication barriers. Please donate and help others see their abilities.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Donaho and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.