The Basics of Autism
Spectrum Disorders
Training Series
Regional Autism Advisory Council of
Southwest Ohio (RAAC-SWO)
RAAC Training Committee 2011
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
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
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
Training Series Modules
 Module Twenty: Asperger Syndrome: Managing and
Organizing the Environment
 Module Twenty-One: Asperger Syndrome:
Addressing Social Skills
Addressing Sensory Needs in
the Classroom Environment
 Occupational Therapist on the team will create an
individualized “sensory diet” for each student that
needs one.
 Sensory diet is made up of activities that will help the
student be ready to learn during the school day.
 Activities in the sensory diet are things that should
occur everyday and should be implemented through
out the school day.
 Sensory diet is a proactive approach, which means it
helps to prevent problem behavior related to sensory
needs and ensures the student’s body is ready to learn.
Big Idea
Sensory activities can and should
occur in all environments of the
school including the classroom,
hallway, lunch room, specials,
playground, and bus.
Sensory Diet Activities
There are four types of activities that may be a part of a student’s
sensory diet.
1. Core Muscle Strength
 Helps improve posture, or how a student sits at their desk or table
in the classroom environment.
2. Crossing Midline (when a person is asked to take their right hand and
reach across to their left side to do something, or vise versa, asked to
take their left hand and reach across to their right side to do
something)
 Helps with reading, writing, and math concepts.
3. Heavy Work
 Helps a student calm down and re-focus.
4. Calming
 Helps a student transition to the next activity.
Core Muscle Strength
Activities
 Yoga Poses
Dog
Cat
Bridge
Cobra
 Superman
 Popcorn
 Scooter board
 Ball activities
Crossing Midline Activities
• Cross Crawls- standing,
sitting, front back
• Brain Dance
• Alphabet Crossover
• Arm Swings- front,
back, cross-over
• Balance beam- forwards,
backwards, sideways
• Yoga-Windmill, Pretzel,
Hero
Heavy Work Activities
 Wall pushes
 Chair push-ups
 Yoga
 Exercise bands
 Jumping- on floor, mini-tramp
 Pushing/pulling- give them a job “delivering”
something
Calming Activities
 Yoga Poses
Peacock
Mouse
Do Nothing Doll
Waterfall
 Hook-Ups/Bear Hug
 Listening Ears
 Dots and Squeezies
Big Idea
Sensory activities help
students stay calm and
organized so that they
can be open to learning.