It is a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain. Although a single specific cause of autism is not known, current research links autism to biological or neurological differences in the brain and there may be a genetic basis to the disorder. Autism impacts the normal development of the brain in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. The disorder can make it difficult to communicate with others and relate to the outside world. Individuals may also experience sensitivities in the five senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste.
Autism is a spectrum disorder so characteristics vary in severity.
You may feel like a detective, trying to figure out just what the student is trying to communicate with the behavior that you observe. Taking data will sometimes help to figure out if the student is rejecting or requesting, or some other communicative intent. To alleviate behavior problems and address receptive language deficits, work closely with the teaching staff. Demonstrate and teach staff to use short commands paired with gestures when giving directions to the student who has Autism. For students who are verbal, using routine and scripts can sometimes be successful in teaching pragmatics.