autism in the classroom

A student participates in class, follows directions, completes assignments, and appears to interact comfortably with classmates. From an educator’s perspective, the student may seem to be doing well. Then the student gets home and is exhausted. They withdraw, become overwhelmed, or need significant time to recover from the school day. For some autistic students, the […]

For many years, public understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) was shaped by a fairly narrow picture of what autism “looks like.” Educators were often taught to recognize students who displayed obvious social communication differences, repetitive behaviors, or significant support needs. While these characteristics certainly describe many autistic students, they do not represent everyone’s experience. […]

What looks like misbehavior may actually be sensory overload. For many students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), everyday school environments are full of triggers—bright lights, loud noises, crowded spaces, and constant transitions. These sensory experiences aren’t just distractions. They can cause real discomfort, anxiety, or distress that leads to shutdowns, meltdowns, or unexpected behaviors (National […]