Promoting Social Skills and Engagement in Students with Autism
Help me give my students the sensory input they need to promote engagement and socialization skills.
$192 goal
Hooray! This project is fully funded
Hooray! This project is fully funded
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
I teach speech and communication skills to students, ages 4-12 years old, who attend a special education elementary school in Brooklyn, New York. Most of my students are non-verbal, therefore, I teach them to use alternative modes of communication such as pictures and/or communication devices to express their wants and needs. Many of our lessons involve hands-on activities and turn-taking games to practice using appropriate social skills with their peers (e.g. waiting your turn, directing a peer).
My students come to school curious and eager to explore and learn.
My students have emotional, intellectual, and developmental disabilities such as Autism and Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). As a result, nearly all my students have difficulties with sensory processing. Sensory processing refers to how the nervous system organizes and manages incoming environmental information (e.g. smells, sounds). The sensory processing challenges my students face may interfere with their participation in social activities, play, and academic tasks. My students perform their best when their unique sensory needs have been met.
My Project
We are requesting beanbag seats and wobble seats. Using sensory strategies such as flexible seating options will promote engagement and learning in my classroom. When my students are engaged, they listen and attend which promotes speech and language development. If they communicate their wants and needs effectively, the possibilities are endless!
Having sensory items in my classroom will allow me to create a sensory corner where my students can feel comfortable and safe.
Each student has unique sensory needs which is why they need different options in the classroom. My students are young but I want to encourage independence as much as possible now. Being able to communicate your wants and needs effectively falls under independence.
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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. C. and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.