With the rising prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in recent years, it has become increasingly important to create awareness within our communities, especially among children.
Children are not only our future, but they may also be living with or growing up alongside someone with autism without fully understanding the condition or how to deal with challenging behaviors.
Unfortunately, children with autism often face bullying in schools, get into trouble due to misunderstandings, or experience difficulties making friends. Therefore, it is crucial not only to recognize the characteristics of autism but also to foster a more inclusive environment through awareness, acceptance, understanding, and support.
Teaching strategies to peers and siblings within the school setting can play a vital role in helping neurotypical children better understand other kids with autism. This approach encourages them to see beyond the challenges and appreciate individuals with autism as unique and capable, deserving of equal opportunities for success.
When I asked students if they had ever heard of autism or what they knew about it, I received several surprising responses. Some students said, “It’s something you get when someone hits you in the head,” “If someone hits your head, you get autism,” “They’re always in La La land,” “People who don’t think straight,” and “They are annoying.”
However, a few students mentioned that either they have autism themselves or know someone—a sibling or a cousin—with autism. Despite this, very few students understood what autism truly is or how to support their peers or loved ones with autism.
YouTube offers several educational videos that explain autism, its signs, and approaches to support individuals with autism. Begin the activity by watching a video or, even better, having an open discussion about autism. Talking directly to students allows you to explain concepts at their pace and clarify their doubts.
After the initial discussion or video, you can progress to watching a short movie about autism. Engage the students by asking them to:
- Identify the signs of autism shown by the main character
- Identify the setting and characters
- Answer inference or prediction-based questions
- Recall and summarize the story
- Ask problem-solving or thought-provoking questions
- Discuss strategies for managing challenging behaviors
Encouraging students who have siblings, cousins, or friends with autism to share their experiences—and providing them with specific strategies for handling challenging situations—could be beneficial. It also helps them understand the reasons behind certain behaviors associated with autism.
This activity can be used by both Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) and educators to promote autism awareness in the school setting.
The following are some of the short movies on Autism available on YouTube:
- Loop – Pixar
- Knots
- Louis’ Shoes (French movie with captions in English)
- Me, My Autism and I
Author: Arpana Bagchi, MASLP, CCC-SLP — Senior Speech Pathologist and former consultant Audiologist
