Autism, Neurodiversity, and More: Insights from an Autistic Educator
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Our understanding of autism has changed greatly over the past few decades. Once thought to be a rare disorder that primarily affected nonverbal boys, autism today encompasses a wide spectrum of individuals. Autistic brains are wired differently than neurotypical brains, but no two autistic individuals are exactly alike, either. As the number of autistic adults grows, their unique perspectives are adding an exciting new dimension to the way we think about autism. Now a school librarian in South San Antonio ISD, Adriana White was previously a special education teacher in North East ISD for 5 and a half years. She is also autistic, and would like to share what she has learned from her experience as an educator on the spectrum. Links to resources about autism (including recommended websites and books) will also be shared with attendees.
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Autism, Neurodiversity, and More: Insights from an Autistic Educator
- 1. Autism, Neurodiversity, and More: Insights from an Autistic Educator Adriana White Shepard MS Librarian http://bit.ly/AWAutis m
- 2. Who I Am And Why I’m Here 1
- 3. My name is Adriana White. Librarian with South San Antonio ISD for 2 months. Special education teacher with NEISD for 5.5 years. Hello!
- 4. Diagnosed with Autism in 2018.
- 6. Before Teaching ◉ Master’s degree in Education from UTSA with a concentration in Special Education. ◉ Volunteered in the UTSA TEAM Autism Research Center.
- 8. Researching Autism in Girls “She would never come when I called her name.” “She was always in her own little world.” “It was so bad, we had her hearing checked.” "She only had a single friend, and she acted exactly like her." "She cried all the time." "All she ever wanted to do was read."
- 9. Me and my family, 2011.
- 10. Pros: ◉ Super smart. ◉ Very quiet. ◉ No drama. ◉ Reads encyclopedias for fun! According to My Mom Cons: ◉ Doesn’t have a lot of “common sense.” ◉ Gets lost easily. ◉ Doesn’t realize when people are trying to take advantage of or trick her.
- 11. Stacey Cobb, MD, UofSC. 2016
- 12. A Method to the “Madness” ❏ Bipolar? ❏ Schizophrenia? ❏ BPD? ❏ Autism! ➢ My brain works differently than most people's, but in a way that makes sense to me now!
- 13. A Crash Course & Some Resources The autism spectrum is incredibly complex. ◉ Communication ◉ Socialization ◉ Sensory Issues ◉ Comorbid Conditions You are uniquely qualified to help guide staff and students! ◉ Strategies ◉ Tools ◉ + Stories
- 14. “We believe in the power of stories, the strength of communities and the beauty of the human spirit.”
- 16. Neurodiversity “Different, not less.” Temple Grandin
- 17. “ Neurodiversity may be every bit as crucial for the human race as biodiversity is for life in general. Who can say what form of wiring will prove best at any given moment? Harvey Blume, 1998: Cybernetics and computer culture, for example, may favor a somewhat autistic cast of mind. Judy Singer
- 18. Neurodiversity is... The idea that there are a multitude of ways in which the human brain can operate, and each has its strengths and challenges. ◉ Autism ◉ ADD/ADHD ◉ Dyslexia ◉ and many more...
- 19. Overconnectivity - San Diego State University, 2011
- 20. Taking the scenic route. Pros? Cons?
- 21. Why Neurodiversity? Desire to devote less time, money, and attention on prevention and “cures,” and instead focus more on supporting those living with autism right now. ◉ Resources: Money, Ideas, etc. ◉ Support: Programs, Job Training, etc. ◉ Acceptance, Not Just Awareness! Neurodivergent Narwhals
- 22. Autism3
- 23. “ If you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism. Dr. Stephen Shore:
- 25. The autism spectrum is not a straight line, but a cluster of abilities - which can vary day by day. Source: Rebecca Burgess, The Art of Autism
- 27. Autism Today ◉ Improved diagnosis rates, due to increased awareness of autism and better screening of minority and low-income children. ◉ Early interventions are helping to improve deficits in areas such as speech and self-care. ◉ Previously undiagnosed adults are being diagnosed alongside their children.
- 28. Significant Issues What people are talking about: ◉ “Person-First” vs. “Identity-First” Language ◉ Autism Speaks, Puzzle Pieces, and ABA Therapy ◉ Directing New Areas of Research ◉ Uniting The Disability Community ◉ Intersectionality & POCs (#AutisticWhileBlack)
- 29. Chris Bonnello
- 32. ABA and Stimming Source: Wikihow
- 34. Executive Function Many neurodivergent groups can be linked by the potential for executive functioning (EF) deficits. EF deficits lead to issues with: ◉ working memory ◉ completing tasks ◉ and more...
- 35. Source: When should I tell my child they’re autistic, and how do I tell them? - Autistic Not Weird
- 36. Alexithymia Not knowing what you're feeling. Autistic kids may feel “off” or “weird,” and not know why. Ask an Autistic #27 - What is Alexithymia? (Amythest Schaber)
- 37. Social Issues Sensory Issues Alexithymia It may take years of practice to figure out your emotions! You can figure it out, find tools and strategies, and then everything could change as you get older!
- 38. What is Autistic Burnout? a guide from Autism Women's Network
- 39. So Much More... ◉ “Masking” ◉ Generalization ◉ Selective eating ◉ Special interests ◉ Sensory issues ◉ Echolalia ◉ Consent
- 40. Where You Fit In4
- 41. Fighting the Same Battles Autistic children and adults have valuable knowledge and experience to share. So do their families and friends. And so do you!
- 42. Leveraging Our Experiences Young people are still learning about themselves. They don't always know what they need or want. That’s why it's important for you to have a toolbox of strategies to offer them! Autistic adults can help you by sharing more ideas for strategies, which they have developed from their own personal experiences. You may also be able to help undiagnosed students who are neurodivergent.
- 43. Social-Emotional Learning Peace Corners (Edutopia) FIdgets (Project Sensory)
- 44. Autism is complicated. Let’s learn about it together. Source: We Are Teachers
- 46. Nonfiction Books by Autistic Authors ◉ NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity by Steve Silberman ◉ Look Me in the Eye by John Elder Robison ◉ Raising Cubby: A Father and Son's Adventures with Asperger's, Trains, Tractors, and High Explosives by John Elder Robison ◉ The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism by Naoki Higashida ◉ Fall Down 7 Times Get Up 8 by Naoki Higashida ◉ Funny, You Don't Look Autistic: A Comedian's Guide to Life on the Spectrum by Michael McCreary
- 47. Fiction Books by Autistic Authors ◉ Underdogs by Chris Bonello ◉ On the Edge of Gone by Corinne Duyvis ◉ Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde ◉ The Brightsiders by Jen Wilde ◉ The Someday Birds by Sally J. Pla ◉ The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang ◉ The Bride Test (The Kiss Quotient, #2) by Helen Hoang
- 48. More Recommendations for Books on Autism ◉ Disability in KidLit's Autism on the Page: http://disabilityinkidlit.com/disability/autism/ ◉ Geek Club Books | Books By Autistic Authors: https://geekclubbooks.com/autistic-authors/ ◉ Ada Hoffmann - Autistic Book List: http://www.ada- hoffmann.com/autistic-book-list/ ◉ Goodreads - Books by Actually Autistic Authors: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/113806.Books_by_Act ually_Autistic_Authors
- 49. Books for Kids About Neurodiversity ◉ Why Johnny Doesn't Flap (NT is OK!) by Clay and Gail Morton ◉ The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin by Julia Finley Mosca ◉ All Cats Have Asperger's Syndrome by Kathy Hoopman ◉ All Dogs have ADHD by Kathy Hoopman
- 50. Comics About Autism ◉ Autism Comics - Geek Club Books: https://geekclubbooks.com/autism-comic- books-overview/ ◉ Steve Asbell: https://www.steveasbell.com/comics ◉ Rebecca Burgess: https://the-art-of- autism.com/tag/rebecca-burgess/
- 51. Comics - Steve Asbell
- 52. Websites About Autism ◉ Autistic Not Weird: https://autisticnotweird.com ◉ Autism | The Mighty: https://themighty.com/topic/autism/ ◉ Neurodivergent Rebel: https://neurodivergentrebel.com/ ◉ Actually Autistic Blogs List: https://anautismobserver.wordpress.com/ ◉ Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism - Resources: http://www.thinkingautismguide.com/p/resources.html ◉ Autistic Self-Advocacy Network - Resource Library: https://autisticadvocacy.org/resources/ ◉ Geek Club Books - Educators Resources: https://geekclubbooks.com/educators/
- 53. Autism on Social Media ◉ #ActuallyAutistic hashtag on Twitter: https://twitter.com/hashtag/actuallyautistic?lang=en ◉ #AskingAutistics hashtag on Twitter: https://twitter.com/hashtag/AskingAutistics ◉ #OpenlyAutistic hashtag on Twitter: https://twitter.com/hashtag/OpenlyAutistic ◉ #NeurodiverseSquad hashtag on Twitter: https://twitter.com/hashtag/neurodiversesquad ◉ #SoyAutista hashtag on Twitter: https://twitter.com/hashtag/SoyAutista
- 54. Pinterest Board - Infographics
- 55. Pinterest Board - Comics
- 56. Pinterest Board - Autism Memes
- 57. Pinterest
- 58. Any questions ? You can find me at ◉ @Adriana_Edu ◉ https://www.pinterest.com/mrsalwhite/ ◉ adriana.white@southsanisd.net Thanks! http://bit.ly/AWAutis m
- 59. Credits Special thanks to all the people who made and released these awesome resources for free: ◉ Presentation template by SlidesCarnival ◉ Photographs by Unsplash
Editor's Notes
- It was during my 5 and a half years of teaching SpEd that I was diagnosed with autism.
- When I got my job as a special education teacher, I was told to prepare myself for the triplets. We had a trio of nonverbal girls with autism in our ALE class. My studies at UTSA had mostly focused on boys, so I wanted to learn everything I could about autism in girls. So I dug deep, and found everything I could on the subject.
- And as I researched, I started to notice things. "She would never come when I called her." "It was so bad, we had her hearing checked." "She only had a single friend, and she acted exactly like her." "She cried all the time." "All she ever wanted to do was read." And that's when I realized, "I might be autistic."
- I was the second of four girls in my family. But I never felt like I belonged. I wrote stories about young girls discovering that there were really an alien, or a fairy, or a robot.
- My mom was so proud of how smart I was, and she would brag to her friends about how I read encyclopedias for fun. But then she also worried about me. I didn't have a lot of "common sense." I got lost easily, and I couldn't tell when people were trying to trick me. I couldn't take care of myself.
- I knew something about me was wrong. But autism wasn't even on my radar. In the 90s, when I was a kid, autism was something you only saw in nonverbal boys. In the 2000s, when I was graduating high school and going off to college, autism was something you saw in girls, but mostly nonverbal ones, like my triplets.
- I remember sitting in the school library in Monticello, New York, researching mental illnesses on a school computer, trying to decide if I was more likely suffering from bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Because I knew something was off about my brain. I just didn't know what it was. It would take another decade before I found my triplets and figured it out. Three years ago, I received an official diagnosis of autism and anxiety. It changed my life. Now there's a method to the madness. Yes, my brain works differently than most people's, but in a way that makes sense to me now.
- Our objectives for today. I want you to add the stories of autistic adults to your strategy toolbox.
- ...the power of stories...
- Neurotypical refers to the so-called "normal" brain. The neurotypical brain parses or removes all the extra connections it doesn't use in early childhood. The neurodivergent brain does not, so sometimes we have to navigate through some extra loops to get to the same place.
- These brains can still get from point A to point B, but sometimes, we take a slightly different route. My favorite explanation for the processing delay that we see in people with autism is that we're taking the scenic route! (A pro of this may be increased creativity!)
- How most people view the autism spectrum.
- How we should view the autism spectrum.
- 11
- When I was getting my degree at UTSA, we were told to use "person-first" language, to signify that someone with autism was a person first. A person with a disability was a person first. The idea came from a place of good intentions. But there are many people who want to use terms like autistic, or disabled. They don't want to act as if being disabled is a bad thing. They advocate for "identity-first" language.
- Chris Bonnello of Autistic Not Weird is, like myself, a former special education teacher who is also autistic. He supports autistic voices, but also acknowledges that parents and teachers of autistic children have important experiences worth sharing, as well.
- ABA...
- This raises the issue of functioning labels, which can seem useful for categorizing kids, but what many think of the autism spectrum as being a straight line, it's really more like a circle, with different dimensions, and dots that can change over time. Prosopagnosia (face blindness)
- The best analogy for me is the idea of computer memory - just as my old desktop computer, still running Windows 7, can't handle 12 Chrome tabs, Spotify, Microsoft Word, and Adobe Reader running all at once - a neurodivergent brain can sometimes have difficulty with handling several things at once.
- Many things that come naturally, or without thinking, in NT people, take conscious thought and effort on the part of autistic people (socialization, etc.). This is one reason why it's important to talk to kids about autism and what it means. It's a mistake to think that not acknowledging autism will make it less of a big deal. Our kids, even our nonverbal ones, know more than they let on - they're aware of the world around them. Autistic kids will eventually feel that something is wrong, and they will likely feel that something is wrong with them. Without the context of autism, to help explain why they act the way they act, why they feel the way they feel, these kids may be left thinking that they are broken and worthless.
- If continuously asked for a reason why they're unhappy, an autistic person may frantically latch onto an explanation, any explanation, just so they can exit the conversation and be left alone. This explanation, in this context, is not necessarily the actual root of what's wrong - it's just the closest thing to the surface at that given moment!
- (e.g., I didn't realize the importance of lotion on dry skin until college - now I can't function without it.) (Though this could also be explained by sensory sensitivities increasing with age, conversely just as social issues are getting worked out.)
- My Burnout Story...
- More big topics in autism...
- We all want the same things - to make life better for people on the spectrum (especially those who can't, or are still learning how to, advocate for themselves).
- Many ideas from SpEd are being utilized for SEL (like Peace Corners, etc.), which means that you all have great potential to be leaders in this area, and guide our Gen Ed teachers in planning and implementing more student-friendly environments
- Wrapping Up!