A Need to Belong My memories of being bullied in middle school and high school are still vivid. As an individual on the autism spectrum, the complexities of social relationships were especially challenging during my formative years. It is with great empathy that I now approach the challenge of inclusive settings as an educator. I […]
autism
Posted inSpecial Education
A Place to Belong: Life Inside an Enhanced Autism Classroom
Enhanced Autistic Support classrooms are rarely the topic of casual conversation, yet they are places where meaningful growth happens every day. Too often, students with autism are left on the margins of social circles in general education settings. In my classroom, that story is rewritten daily—one connection, one success, and one confident learner at a […]
Posted inSpecial Education
Words Matter: A teacher’s response to Robert F. Kennedy’s statement on autism
Words matter. We often learn this simple but important concept before we enter preschool or kindergarten. For some reason, many people with large platforms often seem to forget this principle. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a prime example of individuals who have forgotten the power and potential harm that words […]
Posted inSpecial Education
Embracing the Rhythm: Understanding and Supporting Stimming in Autism
Recently, when discussing a parent’s concerns about his son’s stimming. Stimming, which is short for self-stimulatory behavior, refers to repetitive body movements or sounds, such as hand-flapping or other repetitive hand movements, rocking, tapping, spinning, or vocalizations, such as humming or repetitive sounds or phrases. What is stimming? Stimming is a common action exhibited in […]
Posted inSpecial Education
An Educational Revolution: Montessori Education and its Benefits for Students with Autism
In the ever-changing world of education, where research is always changing, and new studies are always coming out, there is one approach that has recently been growing and gaining more attention than ever before: Montessori education. Montessori education is an educational approach developed by Dr. Maria Montessori that emphasizes child-centered learning, self-directed activity, and hands-on, […]
Posted inSpecial Education
Celebrating Neurodiversity: The Impact of ‘Love on the Spectrum'”
In recent years, there has been a remarkable push for diversity and inclusivity in the media. As a special educator specializing in autism, I have often felt saddened by the lack of autism representation in the media in the midst of this new media revolution. Recently, I came across the Netflix series “Love on the […]
Posted inSpecial Education
Nurturing social-emotional learning for students with autism
In the realm of education, one size certainly does not fit all. As educators, it’s our responsibility to ensure that every student, regardless of their abilities or challenges, has the opportunity to thrive. For students with autism, social-emotional learning (SEL) is not just a curriculum; it’s a lifeline – a pathway to understanding, connection, and […]
Posted inPedagogy
How to Support Parents and Educators of Autistic Students
I remember the first student I taught who had been diagnosed with autism very well. “Ms. Lamons, you need to fix the date on the board.” “Ms. Lamons, I need to know what we are doing today.” “Ms. Lamons, I finished my work. Now, what do I do?” John had what some described as a […]