Imagine how it would feel if words alone just didn't make sense. My students with autism are visual learners who depend on routines and predictability. Pictures help them learn and communicate. Visuals are vital in helping my students expand their vocabulary, and make it through the school day.
My students range from kindergarten to fifth grade, and each of them has varying degrees of autism.
They are each unique and have their own individual strengths and challenges. They attend a public elementary school with their typically developing peers. Some attend general ed. classes, while others spend most of their day in the ASD classroom. My students work on academic and daily living skills each day. They also work hard on communication and social skills in order to develop a better quality of life. My students' autism make them have to work harder than most children their age, but they DO work so hard and overcome so many challenges. My students inspire and amaze me each day as they continue to work hard and develop new skills. I learn so much from them.
My Project
My students depend on visual systems and schedules throughout their day. Many of my students don't handle it well when things in their environment change. I use visuals to help them understand their environment, because when they get frustrated my voice just causes sensory overload. When I'm able to show them a picture of what to do, they can process it without having to hear the sounds from their environment. I also use visuals while teaching. Many students are working on communication and social skills. Pictures paired with words helps them develop a more extensive vocabulary. Visuals also help them learn and understand their emotions, so they can better express themselves and understand others' feelings. I often need to create visuals quickly as I get to know new students, so the color printer would be extremely helpful. Our school is getting rid of our color printers, and I would hate for my students to suffer because their visuals weren't realistic looking. They need color.
Visuals bring stability to a child with autism's day.
The printer will allow staff to create appropriate and realistic visuals to support the students' needs. When their environment is too much to handle and words are too much to process, a picture can be the saving grace. Visuals are a part of my students' daily routine at home and school and are needed to allow students to continue to grow.
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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 Ms. Donaldson and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.