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Use these interactive tools to engage students at the foundational level.

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A curriculum aimed at students with autism that bridges foundational and advanced scientific concepts.

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Resources to help students with autism develop social skills within the context of science education.

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School Community Tool Kit

Supporting social interaction is an important piece of the student's educational plan. Student's with autism often have the desire to interact with others, but do not have the skills to engage appropriately or may be overwhelmed by the process. Some students are painfully aware of their social deficits and will avoid interactions even though they desperately want to connect with others. Others will engage in attention seeking behavior to connect with others until they build the skills they need to interact. Social development represents a range of skills, including timing and attention, sensory integration and communication, that can be built and layered to improve social competence. Building competence will result in further interest and interaction.

Here are some strategies to support social skill development in your students with autism:

Reinforce what the student does well socially - use behavior-specific praise (and concrete reinforcement if needed) to shape pro-social behavior.

Model social interaction, turn taking and reciprocity.

Teach imitation, motor as well as verbal.

Teach context clues and referencing those around you (for example, 'if everyone else is standing, you should be too!').

Break social skills into small component parts, and teach these skills through supported interactions. Use visuals as appropriate.

Celebrate strengths and use these to your advantage. Many students with autism have a good sense of humor, a love of or affinity for music, strong rote memorization skills, or a heightened sense of color or visual perspective. Use these to motivate interest in social interactions or give a student a chance to shine and be viewed as competent and interesting.

Identify peers who model strong social skills and pair the student with them. Provide peers with strategies for eliciting communication or other targeted objectives, but be careful not to turn the peer into a teacher strive to keep peer interactions as natural as possible.

Create small lunch groups, perhaps with structured activities or topic boxes. (The group to pulls a topic out of a box and discusses things related to this topic, such as 'The most recent movie I saw was...' This can be helpful for students who tend to talk about the same things all the time since it provides supports and motivation and the benefit of a visual reminder of what the topic is.)

Focus on social learning during activities that are not otherwise challenging for the child (for example, conversational turn-taking may not occur if a child with poor fine motor skills is being asked to converse while cutting.)

Support peers and student with structured social situations. Define expectations of behavior in advance. (For example, first teach the necessary skill, such as how to play Uno, in isolation, and then introduce it in a social setting with peers.)

Teach empathy and reciprocity. To engage in a social interaction, a person needs to be able to take another's perspective and adjust the interaction accordingly. While their challenges may distort their expressions of empathy, people with autism often do have capacity for empathy. This can be taught by making a student aware - and providing appropriate vocabulary - through commentary and awareness of feelings, emotional states, recognition of others' facial expressions and non verbal cues.

Use social narratives and social cartooning as tools in describing and defining social rules and expectations.

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Autism and Social Skills Development | Autism Speaks

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Click here to read an excerpt on autism and social skills development from the Autism Speaks School Community Tool Kit.

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Incorporate project-based learning into your advanced science curriculum for students with autism.

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Engage students with autism in intermediate-level hands-on science experiments.

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You are going to love these clean science experiments for autistic children and this guest post from the wonderful Emily Swank of Autism Assistant!

It is no secret that incorporating science experiments into learning is a great way to engage children and make lessons more hands-on and fun. While autistic students may have different needs in the classroom, they typically enjoy a good science experiment as much as every other learner.

However, there can be some sensory needs that need to be taken into consideration when planning science experiments, to ensure that your autistic child is as comfortable as every other student.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, Our Family Code earns from qualifying purchases. Please see our Disclosure Policy for more details.

Sensory Issues and Autism

Many children on the autism spectrum have sensory processing disorder (SPD) or struggle with certain sensory issues. A very oversimplified definition of this is just that their brain processes sensory input (touch, taste, sight, smell, sounds) from the environment around them differently than most children. For some children this can mean they crave extra sensory input and for others it can cause an aversion to certain stimuli all together.

National Autism Resources is the leading online resource for information, advice, toys, gifts, educational products and more.

For our article, we have picked 5 clean science experiments that are quiet and don't require children to get their hands messy, since these can be typical triggers for autistic children.

The lemon juice used for the invisible ink experiment is composed of carbon compounds. When they are at room temperature on the paper they are colorless.

The fibers of the paper soak up the carbon compounds from the lemon juice. When the paper is completely dry you can't see any of the lemon juice.

However, when you add heat to the paper, it breaks the carbon's chemical bonds in the lemon juice. This causes some of the carbon to be released and when that released carbon comes into contact with the heat, it oxidizes (turns a darker color). Thus revealing the "invisible ink" that has been written on the paper.

Invisible Ink Experiment Steps

1) Add fresh squeezed lemon juice or bottled lemon juice to a cup.

2) Put the end of your writing utensil (paint brush, Q-tip, cotton ball, etc) in the cup and soak it enough to get enough liquid on the end.

3) Write your message on a plain piece of paper. Then let it dry completely so that it is invisible.

4) Use a heat source to warm up the lemon juice. We used a lighter but there are plenty of available heat sources like a candle or a stove top burner.
Always have an adult conduct or supervise this portion of the experiment.
5) Watch your invisible message appear!

When vinegar and baking soda are mixed together, it causes an acid-base reaction that produces carbon dioxide, which fills up the balloon.

Steps for blowing up a balloon using science

1) Take an empty 16 oz water bottle and pour approximately one inch of white vinegar into the bottom. (You may want to use a funnel for easy pouring. Just be sure to rinse it off and wipe it clean before you use it again.)

2) Use your funnel to put some baking soda into the balloon. You may need to use a Q-tip to push it through.

3) Attach the balloon to the top of the water bottle but be careful not to dump the baking soda in yet.

4) Turn the balloon over and let the baking soda fall into the vinegar at the bottom of the water bottle.

5) You will see the balloon begin to expand and fill up.

When lemon juice is mixed with baking soda, it creates an acid-base reaction that releases carbon dioxide, which produces bubbles. This is the same sort of reaction they use to create the bubbles in popular carbonated soft drinks.

Steps to Make your Lemon Bubble

1) Take a lemon and cut one end off. An adult should do this part of the experiment.

2) Take a fork and mix up the inside of the lemon. (Make sure to leave everything inside the lemon because we need all the juice for the experiment.

3) Add a couple drops of blue or red food coloring and stir it up a little more.

4) Now add a scoop of baking soda and watch the bubbles appear up at the top of the lemon opening.

The purpose of this experiment is to show the little scientists how adhesion, cohesion, and surface tension can cause a liquid to move up a porous solid.

The molecules in the water stick to each other (cohesion), next they will stick to the paper towel (adhesion). As a water molecule starts to climb up the paper towel, the next water molecule that is stuck to it will begin to be pulled up the paper towel by the first molecule.

This happens in a long line as many molecules are being pulled up the paper towel in succession. This will give the appearance that the water has been walking up and down the paper towels.

Steps for the Walking Water Experiment

You might like: Sensory Bottle Science

This clean science experiment is teaching children about weight distribution. It's great for future architects and engineers!

Steps for Using Science to Make Paper Cups Hold Your Body Weight

1) Have the child stand on a paper cup. It will easily crumble under the weight of even a smaller child. This is because all the weight is directly on the cup.

2) Now, evenly space out several of the same paper cups (6-10) and then put a piece of cardboard over all the cups. Then have the child stand on the cardboard. It should hold them because of the weight distribution.

If you're feeling brave you can even add a second layer of cups with another piece of cardboard on top of that.

Help with Sensory Issues

Occupational Therapy is a tool that is often used to help children with sensory issues adjust to the environment around them and deal with sensory stimulation. AutismAssistant.com is a great free tool to help parents find high quality therapy providers within their community that can work with their children on issues like sensory processing disorder. Consulting with a therapist is a great place to start.

About the Author

Emily Swank is the mother of three children, two of which are autistic. She is also the Founder of Autism Assistant, a national search engine and database that helps parents find autism resources within their community.

Make sure to follow Emily and Autism Assistant on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube!

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5 Clean Science Experiments for Autistic Children - Our Family Code

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You are going to love these clean science experiments for autistic children and this guest post from the wonderful Emily Swank of Autism Assistant! It is no secret that incorporating science experiments into learning is a great way to engage children and make lessons more hands-on and fun.

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These basic science lessons are designed for students with autism who are at the foundational level.

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Explore advanced scientific topics suitable for students with autism who are ready for more challenging material.

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Scientists identify a new molecular mechanism for autism - Advanced Science News

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High levels of nitric oxide, a signaling chemical in the brain, appear to contribute to the behavioral deficits observed in autism.

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Guidance and resources for students with autism who are interested in pursuing careers in STEM fields.

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Many autistic students are told that they might be great candidates for a career in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM). As the need for workers in these fields increases, more and more employers are finding success hiring and integrating autistic individuals into their workforce. Hospitals, governments, newsrooms, homes, K-12 schools, universities, technology start-ups, and many other businesses and workplaces depend on technology to communicate, innovate, and run operations efficiently. However, it might be challenging to narrow down which particular area of study and future career path will actually bring happiness and fulfillment to your life. How will you know what will feel empowering and rewarding as an outlet for your specific interests and abilities? Depending on your specific skill set and autism profile, certain jobs might just be the right fit.

Common strengths among autistic people include attention to detail, visual discrimination, and strong long-term memory, all of which can be advantageous to careers such as software debugging, artificial intelligence creation, and video game design. In a 2012 article by Gareth Cook, he highlights how skills many autistic people display "like intense focus and careful execution" were highly desired for large tech companies. A director at one of Denmark's largest telecommunication firms "slowly conceived a business plan: many companies struggle to find workers who can perform specific...tasks, like data entry or software testing; some autistic people would be exceptionally good at those tasks" (Cook, 2012). Initiatives like this have taken off in the last few years as companies are becoming more inclusive, neurodivergent-aware, and looking to diversify their workforce.

A 2016 article from Take Part focuses on one school's innovative approach to teaching autistic STEM students and reminds us that "Some people with autism spectrum disorder have inherent abilities that make them well-suited for careers in science and technology, especially computer programming" (Cowen). The school's director, Dr. Ellis Crasnow, points out that autistic students:

'can have highly superior visual discrimination. That is the ability to tell difference very, very easily,' noting that many people dismiss this ability as inconsequential. 'That's an exceptional gift. If you're a software debugger, often there are very subtle differences you're looking for, a comma instead of a period, a symbol missing or a letter missing. They will focus on those differences very quickly, whereas you or I might not.' (Cowen, 2016)

STEM careers might be the right fit for someone with autism because of the strong overlap between skills that are necessary to be successful or make a meaningful impact and traits identified as particular strengths in autistic individuals. So, how do you know which of your strengths will translate to a successful career? Think about what drives you and helps you stay focused.

In today's job market, your greatest skill might be your biggest asset, regardless of what areas, if any, you still struggle with:

This march toward greater specialization, combined with the pressing need for expertise in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, suggests that the prospects for autistic workers will be on the rise in the coming decades. If the market can forgive people's weaknesses, then they will rise to the level of their natural gifts. (Hughes, 2017)

Plus, don't forget to account for the type of problems to solve or tasks to complete that make you feel fulfilled, proud, and successful. Assess your own needs, interests, and goals and discuss with a career counselor or parent to help identify and apply your specific strengths. For example, if you are interested in tech companies but don't enjoy the particular workflow of data analysis as much as you thought, look for a position in human resources or management within the same general field. If you get a jolt of excitement after laboriously looking and then finding a minor error in a lengthy code, look for jobs that will involve this sort of careful attention.

Here is a list of features that are important to success in certain STEM fields that overlap with common traits that many autistic people have:

Enjoy working towards a clear end point where progress can be seen

Strong attention to detail and ability to discriminate slight differences

Devotion to accuracy

An ability to distinguish between similar sounds

High visual acuity

Enjoy focusing on an exclusive task

An ability to rotate three-dimensional models mentally

Quickly encode and analyze information

Doesn't mind periods of solitary work

Logical outlook and approach to problems

Enjoy knowing a high degree of detail about a specific topic

(Cook, 2012 and Soulières et. al, 2009)

As mentioned earlier, do not be discouraged to apply and interview for jobs that might be intimidating or because you feel anxiety around the hiring process or the novelty of meeting new coworkers and new administrators. Be up front with your interviewing team about your profile, and be confident in the skills you do have any why they would be a great fit for a certain field. Think and speak about what you hope to get out of this job on a personal level. As more companies learn why neurodiverse practices can amplify their job site atmosphere and benefit their overall employee production, hopeful autistic employees will be better represented and understood in the modern workforce.

In the meantime, if it makes you feel more comfortable, you can hone in and practice some soft skills for interviews and getting to know your coworkers socially, or tackle any anxiety more directly.

References

Cook, G. (2012, Nov 29). The autism advantage. The New York Times. Retrieved from: nytimes.com/(autism-advantage)

Cowan, S. (2016). Kids with autism find path at STEM-focused school. Take Part. Retrieved from: takepart.com/(LA-stem-school)

Hughes, A. (2017). Myths & facts about autism spectrum disorder. Kennedy Krieger Institute. Retrieved from: kennedykrieger.org/(facts-about-asd)

Preston, E. (2018, February 12). Work In Progress: An inside look at autism's job boom. Retrieved from spectrumnews.org(autisms-job-boom)

Soulières, I., Dawson, M., Samson, F., Barbeau, E. B., Sahyoun, C. P., Strangman, G. E., . . . Mottron, L. (2009). Enhanced visual processing contributes to matrix reasoning in autism. Human Brain Mapping, 30(12), 4082-4107. doi:10.1002/hbm.20831

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Autism and STEM: Career Considerations for Students | Stairway to STEM

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Autism and STEM can be a good combination for your future career. Students interested in STEM can explore considerations here.

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Autistic children help design teaching tools

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Autistic children help design teaching tools

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Autism: Autistic children and children with Autism spectrum disorder worked with academics from the University of Bath, Departments of Psychology and Computer Science to develop a computer-based science tutorial system.

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Autism: Autistic children help design teaching tools

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Fun K-8 Science Lessons with Activities, Teacher Resources, and More