Written Core Values Statement

The rate of children that are being diagnosed with autism is increasing at an alarming rate. While there is no clear cause of autism, the Center for Disease Control estimates that one in forty-five children is on the autism spectrum. The cost of education continues to increase as schools become better at early recognition and intervention. Harvard researchers estimate that the additional costs associated with special education for children with ASD are an additional $8,610 per child per year. While these costs are unavoidable because of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), there are ways that these costs associated with teaching these exceptional students may be decreased. This paper will discuss ways to decrease the

After the core values have been agreed upon, rules and consequences need to be formed. If one of the core values is that school is a safe place and everyone is treated with respect, the rule would be one where no one is allowed to put someone else down. The unique aspect of this model is that the consequences are not punitive. The consequences are either logical, conventional, or generic. Logical consequences are just that, logical. If a student makes a mess, he cleans it up or if they speak in a hurtful way to another student, they must practice speaking in non-hurtful ways. Conventional consequences are those such as time outs. However, to maintain the dignity of the student, a time period should not be placed, instead a statement such as “when you are ready to come back and learn, you may rejoin the class”. Finally, generic consequences are reminders, warnings, or a three strike rule. Often a simple reminder is all that is needed to bring attention and correction

Students with ASD need the ability to move around to decrease their stress levels. When stress levels appear to be elevated, provide a safe place for movement. This safe place may be in the classroom or even out in the hall. Make sure that there is a set amount of time for the sensory break to avoid the student from using the break to avoid classwork. If movement in the classroom or taking a short break outside of the class is unavailable, the use of fidget tools is a great alternative. Fidget tools can also include bendy snakes, koosh balls, and old nylons tied to the chair legs so students can also fidget with their legs and feet. However, most important is the understanding of your student and what overwhelms him. Some movement is good if it allows them to maintain focus. Knowing the student’s needs is the best tool to decrease to occurrence of sensory meltdowns in the