1. General Autism Standards
Domain 1: Standards 1-4
Overview: This module will provide
learners with the general
characteristics of autism associated
with standards 1-4 in domain 1
1

2. In this Module, Participants Will Learn:
• The range characteristics associated with
autism spectrum disorders (ASD)
• The impact of ASD on learning and functioning
• How ASD affects the ability to communicate
and socialize with others
2

3. What is “ASD”?
• Autism Spectrum Disorders
• A Developmental Disability caused by brain
differences
• Believe to effect about 1 in 88 people
• Treatable, but not curable
• Ranges from very mild symptoms to very severe -
a ”spectrum disorder”
• 4 out of 5 people diagnosed with autism are male
S1

4. The Characteristics of ASD
• Impairments in language and
communication, and social interaction
• Repetitive behaviors and compulsivity
S1

5. Impairments in
Language and Communication
 Speech might sound like a script from a
movie or TV show
 Speech sounds strange, too loud or soft
 Difficulty with speaking- might talk too
much, not enough, or not at all
 Difficulty understanding directions and
might misunderstand you
 Doesn’t understand idioms, metaphors,
sarcasm, and abstract language
 Echolalia (repeats certain words or
phrases)
S1

6. Impairments in
Social Interaction Skills
Difficulty with:
o Making and keeping friends
o Understanding how and when to act a certain way
o Having conversations
o Understanding other points of view (“Theory of
Mind”)
o Fitting in and being “cool”
o Turn-taking
o The “unwritten rules”
Insert video of
unwrtitten rules
S1

7. 7
Restrictive and Repetitive Behaviors
• Stereotypic or self-stimulatory behaviors,
such as rocking, humming, hand flapping,
and twirling
• Unusual or limited interests
• Need to place items in a particular order
• Strong need to do a certain behavior
• Need to do the same thing, in the same
way, over and over again
S1

8. 8
Common Characteristics of ASD:
Some additional symptoms:
• Difficulty with change
• Avoids eye contact
• Good at some skills, but not others
• Motor skill deficits
• Sensory differences
• Eloping/wandering
S2

9. ASD and Sensory Issues
• Unusual responses to sensory stimuli.
• Hyper (over) or hypo (under) sensitive to one or more senses
• Something that mildly annoys most people may cause pain in someone
with ASD
• Can make paying attention difficult
Affected Senses:
Auditory (Hearing) Olfactory (Smell)
Tactile (Touch) Visual (Seeing)
Vestibular (Balance) Gustatory (Taste) Proprioceptive (Gross motor)
S2 S3

10. Safety and Medical Issues
Some people with ASD may be diagnosed with additional
medical and psychological problems, including:
• Seizures
• Poor muscle control
• Gastro-intestinal problems
• Ear infections
• Sleep problems
• Anxiety disorder
• Pica (eating non-edible objects)
• Abnormal pain tolerance
• Intellectual disabilities
Some students with ASD are not aware of or afraid of
dangerous situations, such as traffic, water, and fire
S2 S4

11. Asperger’s Syndrome
• One type of Autism Spectrum Disorder
• People who have it may be very intelligent and have milder
symptoms than others with autism
• First diagnosed in the United States in 1989; now most commonly
diagnosed form of ASD
•Students with Asperger’s Syndrome may need training and support with
pragmatic language, social skills, and organization skills in order to be successful
in school and life
• Named for Dr. Hans Asperger, who first described it in 1942
“2E”
S4

12. Classic or “Kanner” autism
• Students with more significant forms of
autism may have cognitive skills that range
from deficient to average
• May not speak until older or may
communicate differently throughout life
• May need more support with every day life-
skills throughout life
• First described by Dr. Leo Kanner in 1942
S4

13. Problems that may occur in the
classroom
• Difficult understanding and
following directions
• Distractibility
• “Inappropriate” behavior
• Difficulty getting along with
peers
• Difficulty with changes in
routine or schedule
S3

14. 14
Problems in the community:
• Socially inappropriate for particular setting
• Behaviors that are not appropriate for the
person’s age or setting
• Problems adjusting to sensory stimuli and
unfamiliar setting
• Problems getting and keeping a job
S3

15. Executive Functioning
• Executive functioning is being in control over
your mind and body
• Deficits with executive functioning can cause
difficulty with:
• Self-regulation
• Organization
• Planning what to do next
• Problem -solving
S3

16. Good things about having ASD
 Able to see and remember details
 Can stay focused on something you
enjoy for a long time
 Solve problems in a new and creative
way
 People with ASD can be REALLY good
at things they enjoy
 Honest and direct communicators
 Friends with ASD are loyal and
interesting!
S4

17. Many people diagnosed with or thought to have ASD have
achieved great success
Temple Grandin
Albert
Einstein
Craig Nicholls
Heather Kuznich
Shigeru Miyamoto
Steven
Spielberg
Bill Gates
Satoshi Tajiri
Daryl Hannah
Stephen Wiltshire
S4

18. Glossary of Terms
• ASD: Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Executive Functioning: Control over your mind and body
• Echolalia: Repeating a word, sound, or phrase that the person has heard, without
conveying the meaning of the word
• Developmental Disability: A disability that occurs in someone before, during, or just
after birth that affects their ability to learn and grow at the same rate as typical children
• Pragmatic Language: Communication that people use to socialize with other people
(such as facial expressions, conversations, tone of voice)
• Repetitive Behavior: Behavior that someone does over and over again, such as playing
with only one toy
• Self-Regulation: The ability to calm down or become more focused
• Stereotypic/ Self-Stimulatory Behavior: Behaviors that people who engage in to help
them calm down or become more focused, such as repeatedly clicking a pen or flapping
hands
• Theory of Mind: The ability to take the perspective of someone else and predict how
they may feel or act
• Unwritten rules: The rules of society that people usually seem to learn on their own,
such as where to stand in an elevator or restroom manners. These changes with
different ages and groups of people 18

19. Assessment for Standards 1-4
1. Which is NOT a characteristic of autism?
a) Communication difficulties
b) Social skill difficulties
c) Repetitive thoughts and behaviors
d) Being gifted in mathematics
2. True or False: Most individuals with ASD are very sensitive to noises, smells,
textures, touch, taste, or movement
3. If your student has problems with their executive functioning, then they may
have difficulty with
a) Organizing their belongings
b) Reading
c) Making friends
4. True or False: Students with ASD have intellectual abilities that range from
deficient to above average
19