Autism A-Z: a resource to increase awareness amongst general educators

Project (M.A., Education (Special Education)) -- California State University, Sacramento, 2011.The general consensus amongst many general educators is that they are under-prepared to work with students with disabilities, particularly those with autism spectrum disorders. This can be due to a lack of awareness programs available at school sites, but also a lack of disability awareness courses at the teacher preparation level at universities and/or colleges. This project presents a resource guide for general educators to use to increase their knowledge and awareness of the students with autism in a small school district located within the greater Sacramento region. The development of this resource included the distribution of a questionnaire among staff at an elementary school to inquire their current knowledge about autism and what information would further increase their awareness about students with autism. Based on findings from this questionnaire, the resource guide was created and then professionals within the school district were asked to review the document and provide feedback. \ud The final product includes, but is not limited to: basic components of autism, behaviors and interventions, sensory interventions, as well other supports and services needed to successfully include a student with an autism spectrum disorder into a general education classroom. The resource guide is composed in an A-Z format, with each letter representing information related to different characteristics of autism or strategies to support students with autism in their school environments. In the resource, educators are also presented with recommendations of how to implement the resource within the general education environment with other educators and potentially elementary-aged students who are typically developing. Ultimately, the goal for this resource is to increase awareness and facilitate dialogue between general educators and special educators as an initial step towards the creation of inclusive opportunities for students with autism.Education (Special Education