1. The Basics of Autism
Spectrum Disorders
Training Series
Regional Autism Advisory Council of
Southwest Ohio (RAAC-SWO)
RAAC Training Committee 2011

2. Training Series Modules
 Module One: Autism Defined, Autism Prevalence
and Primary Characteristics
 Module Two: Physical Characteristics of Autism
 Module Three: Cognition and Learning in Autism
 Module Four: Getting the Student Ready to Learn
 Module Five: Structuring the Classroom
Environment
 Module Six: Using Reinforcement in the Classroom

3. Training Series Modules
 Module Seven: Autism and Sensory Differences
 Module Eight: Sensory in the Classroom
 Module Nine: Communication and Autism
 Module Ten: Communication in the Classroom
 Module Eleven: Behavior Challenges and Autism
 Module Twelve: Understanding Behavior in
Students with Autism

4. Training Series Modules
 Module Thirteen: Social Skills in the School
Environment
 Module Fourteen: Functional Behavior Assessment
 Module Fifteen: Working Together as a Team
 Module Sixteen: Autism and Leisure Skills to
Teach
 Module Seventeen: Special Issues of Adolescence
 Module Eighteen: Safety and Autism
 Module Nineteen: Special Issues: High School,
Transition, and Job Readiness

5. Training Series Modules
 Module Twenty: Asperger Syndrome: Managing and
Organizing the Environment
 Module Twenty-One: Asperger Syndrome:
Addressing Social Skills

6. Autism and Leisure Skills to
Teach
 Students with ASD may not learn leisure skills
automatically.
 Skills can range from:
None Limited

7. Big Idea
Leisure skills need to be taught.

8. Autism and Leisure Skills to
Teach
 Leisure activities are an important part of
everyone’s life.
 Students with ASD may have limited interests.
 We need to teach new activities to go with their
favorite activities so they have more choices.

9. Strategies to Increase Leisure Skills
 Some will have preferred leisure skills unique to
their special interests.
 If the student has a particular interest use
that to guide leisure activities. (i.e. Likes music
– listen to music, play music, go to concerts,
Likes food – teaching them to cook)
 Some activities will need to be changed to be
successful. (i.e. recipe for cooking should be
broken into simple steps with pictures)

10. Strategies to Increase Leisure
Skills
 A new activity will need to be taught step by step
with help and practice.
 Use a few clear words with visual and physical help
when teaching an activity.

11. Strategies to Increase Leisure
Skills
 Leisure activities can be done alone or as a group.
 Choices are important.
 Choice making may need to be taught.
 Have a list or pictures of choices.
 Have a variety of activities so the student does not
get stuck in the routine of doing the same activity
again and again.

12. Big Idea
Help the student with ASD
choose a variety of activities so
they do not get stuck doing the
same thing over and over again.