How to Advocate for Individuals on the Autism Spectrum (Self-Paced)

This course will be taught by a teacher who is on the autism spectrum.

This class is open for anyone to take! Individuals with autism and individuals without autism are encouraged to enroll in this class.

I believe autism is more than just a disAbility, I see it as a different ability. An ability in which one thinks a bit differently than others.

This course will go over multiple topics related to autism and on how to advocate for individuals with autism, whether it is in their schools, communities, state or national level. There will also be some intro content about what autism is, bullying/anti-bullying and person-first language.

Topics Outlined:
-Students at the beginning will share a bit about themselves by making a collage of their personal interests, in order to show how even in someone may think differently, we all have many things in common. Students will record a video of themselves presenting their collages and will share their videos on the classroom page amongst the teacher and the other students.
Topic 1:What is Autism
 -Students will watch a video of myself talking about the topic 
              -Students will share their insights about this topic amongst the teacher and the other students by sharing a comment regarding the topic of the video.
     -Students will watch a You-Tube video and have a hand-out about Autism
    -Students will share their insights about this topic amongst the teacher and the other students by sharing a comment regarding the topic of the video.
   -Students will write a speech about their thoughts/perspectives and/or personal experiences 
      regarding the topic of autism and do a video recording of themselves reading the speech and upload the video recording on the classroom page.
 -Reflection Discussion in which a teacher writes about a scenario related to the topic and the students reply to it and respond to at least one other student's comment.
Topic 2: Person-First Language
        -Students will watch a video of myself talking about the topic 
               -Students will share their insights about this topic amongst the teacher and the other students by sharing a comment regarding the topic of the video.
        -Students will watch a You-Tube video and have a hand-out about person-first language
    -Students will share their insights about this topic amongst the teacher and the other students by sharing a comment regarding the topic of the video.
        -Reflection Discussion in which a teacher writes about a scenario related to the topic and the students reply to it and respond to at least one other student's comment.
Topic 3: Bullying Amongst Children with Autism and other DisAbilities:
  -Students will watch a video of myself talking about the topic of the video.
    -Students will share their insights about this topic amongst the teacher and the other students by sharing a comment regarding the topic of the video.
  -Students will watch a You-Tube video and have a hand-out about bullying
    -Students will share their insights about this topic amongst the teacher and the other students by sharing a comment regarding the topic of the video.
 -Students will write a speech about their thoughts/perspectives and/or personal experiences regarding the topic of standing up to bullying of individuals with autism and other DisAbilities and do a video recording of themselves reading the speech and upload the video recording on the classroom page.
-Reflection Discussion in which a teacher writes about a scenario related to the topic and the students reply to it and respond to at least one other student's comment.
Topic 4:Autism and DisAbility Law (IDEA; Individuals with Disabilities Education Act)
 -Students will watch a video of myself talking about the topic. 
      -Students will share their insights about this topic amongst the teacher and the other students by sharing a comment regarding the topic of the video. 
   -Students will watch a You-Tube video about the history of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and have a hand-out about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and what services for students with autism are provided under IDEA.
       -Students will share their insights about this topic amongst the teacher and the other students by sharing a comment regarding the topic of the video.
 -Students will write a speech about their thoughts/perspectives and/or personal experiences 
      regarding the topic of Autism and DisAbility Law and do a video recording of themselves 
reading the speech and upload the video recording on the classroom page.   
-Reflection Discussion in which a teacher writes about a scenario related to the topic and the students reply to it and respond to at least one other student's comment.
Topic 5: Organizations That Help and Empower Individuals who are on the Autism Spectrum
 -Students will watch a video of myself talking about the topic 
     -Students will share their insights about this topic amongst the teacher and the other students by sharing a comment regarding the topic of the video.
  -Students will watch a You-Tube video and have a hand-out about Organizations that help and empower individuals who are on the Autism Spectrum
   -Students will share their insights about this topic amongst the teacher and the other students by sharing a comment regarding the topic of the video.
-Reflection Discussion in which a teacher writes about a scenario related to the topic and the students reply to it and respond to at least one other student's comment.

Topic 6: Breaking the Autism Stereotypes
-I will be recording a video of myself discussing the stereotypes and misconceptions of how individuals with autism are portrayed in society and in the media.
     -Students will share their insights about this topic amongst the teacher and the other students by sharing a comment regarding the topic of the video.
 -Students will watch Ted Talks of individuals on the autism spectrum sharing their insights.
                  -Students will share their insights about this topic amongst the teacher and the other students by sharing a comment regarding the topic of the video.
-Students will watch clips from youtube videos that show different characters on the autism spectrum portrayed from different TV shows and movies and have a handout about misconceptions and stereotypes of how individuals on the autism spectrum can be portrayed in the media and in society.
           -Students will share their insights about this topic amongst the teacher and the other students by sharing a comment regarding the topic of the video.
 -Students will write a speech about their thoughts/perspectives and/or personal experiences 
      regarding the topic of Breaking The Autism Stereotypes and do a video recording of themselves 
reading the speech and upload the video recording on the classroom page.   
-Reflection Discussion in which a teacher writes about a scenario related to the topic and the students reply to it and respond to at least one other student's comment.


-At the very end of this class, students will share their overall experiences about this class by recording a video of themselves discussing what they learned from this class, what they are taking away from this class and how they plan to help serve individuals with autism and other disAbilities in their local communities.The students will post their videos in the classroom page to share will the teacher and the other students enrolled in this class.