Essay On Autism In Middle Schools

For many students, middle school is challenging time due to identity issues, physical growth and strong emotions. At the same time, in middle-school is when students develop deep and close friendships forming their own rewarding social circles. However, students diagnosed with Autism do not have the same experience. Autism is a developmental disorder characterizes by difficulties in the social use of verbal and nonverbal communication, which impacts a child’s ability to interact, communicate and socialize with others. According to the CDC and ADDM, Autism affects 1 in 68 children in the United Sates. Many students with autism are being served as part of an inclusion model in our middle schools. One of the arguments for the use of inclusion programs is that students with autism benefit from their exposure to and interactions with typical developing peers. Research has demonstrated that peer-mediated strategies enhance social skills in students with ASD when pairing them with socially competent peers to model and reinforce appropriate social behavior. Strategies include arranging situations or contingencies to promote social exchanges, teaching peers methods for reinforcing target skills and strategies for initiating interactions, and teaching social skills to students with ASD. Studies have noted that promoting peer effort is an important
We predict they will be more motivated and stimulated to participate as they have experience the same struggles and social difficulties. Students diagnosed with ASD will be able to teach appropriate social skills to their peers with ASD, in turn, improving social skill proficiency for both peers. It will not only lead to substantial social improvements but it will also increase the students’ self-reliance. Generalization of appropriate social interactions to other school contexts will also be