Discussions 1 & 2

Discussion 1

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

As Chapter 9 of your text states "the number of students identified with ASD has increased over the last few decades. Some people even call ASD an ‘epidemic'" (Powell & Driver, 2013, Chapter 9 Introduction). This increase specifically affects you in the classroom or daycare center because it shows a high likelihood of your encountering children with ASD. Therefore you must understand the disorder as well as the strategies that will support children with ASD in the classroom or center. For this discussion, imagine you are new teacher just learning about ASD.

This discussion has two parts: (Please be sure to include both parts of this in this discussion)

a. Part One: After viewing the Autism Awareness Video: Diagnostic Criteria for Autism and reflecting on the reading from Chapter 9 of your text, briefly describe what ASD is according to IDEA. Even though "no two students with ASD exhibit the exact same characteristics" (Powell & Driver, 2013, Section 9.3), list a few of the difficulties children with ASD might have with communication, social skills, and repetitive or obsessive behaviors. Lastly, explore several of the academic characteristics that some children with ASD might exhibit. Support this portion of your discussion by utilizing information from at least one scholarly resource, as well as your text.

b. Part Two: As your text states, "Many of the teaching suggestions presented in previous chapters may benefit students with ASD" (Powell & Driver, 2013, Section 9.6). The more we understand these connections, the more prepared we will be in terms of planning our instruction. Complete the Austism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Table, comparing which instructional strategies might work with children with ASD as well as children with other disabilities. Be sure to complete each of the bulleted points as they are required, but you may add more detail outside of these bullets if you wish. Include your ASD Table as an attachment.

Guided Response: Review several of your peers' posts. Imagine you are no longer a new teacher, but rather are now mentoring a new teacher. The teacher you are mentoring has come to you asking for advice because a parent of a child who was recently diagnosed with ASD has come to her asking for suggestions on how she can support her child at home. Respond to your peer with support for this parent by including the following tips: What recommendations can be provided to this parent with regards to helping the child academically as well as socially? What resources are available to support this parent? Lastly, how should the classroom teacher support this parent through communication?

Carefully review the Discussion Forum Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate this Discussion Thread.

Discussion 2

IFSP and Early Intervention

You have just taken a position as a teacher in an Early Head Start program. A 6-month-old child has been referred to a doctor for strabismus. In the toddler room, the director and head teacher are talking to a parent about their observations of a 2-year-old, who does not attend or make eye contact when his name is called, and is cognitively and socially assessed at the 12-month-old level. This is a 12-month delay for a 24-month-old child. You have heard them talking about early intervention and a possible individual family service plan (IFSP). Since these terms are new to you, find out what these are and find out how children in your community would be able to access early intervention services. In your discussion post, discuss five to six services all children can receive from early intervention and how an IFSP works in your community. What are the ages that children can receive services in your community and then who might provide those services? You can access this information via the web by looking up early intervention in your state or community or by talking to a local provider in your area.

Guided Response: Read and respond to at least two of your peers. Compare and contrast what you have discovered about Early Intervention services and IFSPs in your area. Talk about how these services support children and families.