Bonnie

   
   
     Based on my group’s findings along with my understanding of Autism, I understand that it is a disability that affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. Children with autism exhibit certain characteristics such as lacking in social and emotional reciprocity and response. This often leads to children with autism feeling isolated from the rest. 

     They are incapable of forming peer relationships because their quirks and actions make it difficult for other children to accept and befriend them. Some of them have a delay or lack of spoken language, not accompanied by non-verbal gestures. This makes it difficult for their peers to understand what they are trying to say. It is often too tedious for other children to keep trying to understand and they will soon give up trying. 

     Children with autism integrated in an inclusive classroom require certain alterations to be made to meet their needs. In the classroom, they tend to have trouble sitting still and paying attention for long during lesson time.  The teacher has to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to manage that child or else, the rest of the class may get distracted by his/her behavior. 

     Children can also benefit from interacting with the child with autism. They get the opportunity to learn to show empathy towards the child. It is tough handling children with autism but teachers and parents have to work hand in hand to overcome the odds for the best interests of the child.