Working with Autistic Children
Working With Autistic Children

Replying to skye1989

Skye,

My suggestion is to answer a couple of questions for yourself:

- Do you want to work in a classroom atmosphere?
- Do you want to work in the child's home?
- Do you want to work in an institutional setting?

Once you answer the questions I would look into the following areas:
- Most School systems need educational aides in school which would give you a great environment to learn and work with these great kids.
- There are a few degree programs to research at college:
- Occupational Therapist
- Special Education Teacher
- Diagnostician/Child Psychology
- Speech Pathologist

All of these degrees can help you work with Autistic or Downs children. I am getting my Special Ed teaching degree while working as a special ed. Aide at a local elementary school and their summer school as well. My parents were both Special Ed. Teachers and I can't think of anything more rewarding for me.

If you want to volunteer or help the cause there are also several charities that focus on autism. My major suggestion is autismspeaks.Org

I hope this is helpful and I wish you the best in your search for the right position.

Steph



-reply by steph

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Working with Disabled Children to me is very Rewarding in Life ,

To assist helping Children gain goals in There life ,That they struggle so hard each day to accomplish or Fit in society’s eye of How one should be or live or much less act .
Autism children ,like aspersers is some what a hidden Disabilities that sometimes does not get taken ,strongly when others view them with challenges ,they feel ,should be easy and rewarding for that child to perform in there own self .

Sometimes they just get pushed so far in themselves with expectations they seem to over react and snap that makes these children seem cruel or out control then with out understanding they act out in aggression that makes things worst at times .
Working with children that have Disabilities of any kind ,should not be a push and shove completion or applying pressure to change that child to fit into a world that is even hard for typical children of any age .


I have trained many years with M pact and Protection Advocacy for disabled ,in helping parents become there own Advocacy for there own child in knowing and understanding how to be there for there own child in creating I.E.P. that is designed or that one child and not the whole school or law book of labels that seems to place children with disabilities as such .

Also to help support Children to attend there own I.E.P. meeting and have a voice in speaking out at there own meeting ,in areas that they really are having difficulties in every day school and social .

Only one that can really offer direction in areas that child needs in support or Receiving public education is That child ,People should really take the time out to really listen to children when they speak out .

Not just offer that child a label to receive state funding and brush hat child off into special education and that is where ,that child stays and offer limited education that does not even motivate that child’s mind or ambitions in life .

I do believe that when a child gets to certain age ,part of there Education ,instead of books and certain areas that the Transitional changes should become a bigger part of that child’s I.EP. In areas that helps that child prepare in life ,once that child leaves school environment ,weather it was in public transportation ,social cues in Living in world on there own ,use of phone books ,use of emergency ,or offering some form of goals in training areas for that child’s interest in working or training ,depending on child’s disabilities .


To me it is rewarding Helping Children with disabilities and Offering support towards parents in most honest manner ,to receive that sparkle in that child’s eyes and that smile to me is very well rewarding in Life .


No child should ever be left behind in this world ,there should always be open doors in all directions ,no matter if disabled or not .

It warms my heart in such a way that ,is magical to me and rewarding .

The love you receive is very strong .

Special note :
being around a child who is autism ,is a special warm Love that is cherished .

The care ,and supportive that comes so natural ,from these children ,they hold such huge hearts
Although can be trying and challenging from day to day ,


Sometimes it’s like a big teddy bear that just want to cuddle and you are limited as they do not like to be touched or cuddle or offer eye contact ,or show difficulties in offering communication ,


You struggle to understand ,being around a child ,like this ,because you find a need to just hug that child ,extremely ,You have to search out other ways to offer that affection that is pleasing to them .

It is a Love that is strong tht always stays in that child ,they strive to understand .
Strive just be Loved no matter what occurs in Life .

Sometimes they hurt you ,with there actions ,as they grow older at times .
Seem so distance ,as life goes on ,it is not that child that loses understanding ,it is the adults that struggle to understand and hold expectations for that child that is far and above there means and challenges in Who they are .


It is a love that ,once really see that love ,it is not a hurt or rejection you are receiving ,it is a stronger Love they offer all ,only if accepted them as they are .A gift to Live and be themselves .

They strive on Love and not on that famous Hurt that life can offer each day .We can all learn so much from that child ,sometimes ,they can be the teacher instead adults always trying to teach and guide .

We all think we understand children with disabilities ,sometimes we do ,and sometimes we just never take time to ask that child , About themselves .

Given a chance ,Children Love others Unconditionally .

~The Right Way ~

With nothing or expectations to be Returned

It is just Pure Love ~

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i am looking to get into a career working with autistic, down syndrome children.

would anyone be able to help me make the right choices in terms of courses and things to be able to provide the highest quality to the children?

replies will be appreciated

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I truly sympathize, Grace. My son has been lucky to have some really good teachers helping him learn in spite of his autism.

By all means bring in as many autism knowledgeble people to help you and your son as you feel you need. Just be aware that for all you do you may not get things straightened out right now, or even in time to help your son this school year (and if there's serious resistance, next year). But if you keep prodding at this problem and maintain your documentation you may get some attitudes adjusted in time for another kid and parent about to go through the same system.
And when he changes schools, as he will eventually, you'll have a true record of his problems for his next teacher.

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It's not necessarily true that autistic children are really gifted in one area, but lack knowledge in others.
It's a filtering issue actually. Some never show a super knack for any one thing at all.
One thing I hated when my daughter was younger ( and the closest anyone had to autistic education was the movie "Rain Man") was when people would ask what her special talent was.
Special talent? Does brute ogre strength because her pain receptors are twacked out count? At age three she tore the door off our microwave. Does that count? No. It does not. Does the ability to eat deoderant with zest because she is looking for a taste ( oral associated) stimulus count? I highly doubt it. LOL!
I'm not saying that there are not some exceptionally gifted autistic people out there. I'm just trying to burn that myth that while some may interact well with others and some may drool on themselves ( SEVERE cases here people) not all of them have some special talent that raises their bar to idiot savant.
If you get rid of the label itself and get past some of the behaviours what you have beneath that is a person with feelings, hopes and dreams. Not a super talent waiting to be discovered.

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