Support and Services for ASD
Parent or Guardian
The main role of parents or guardians is to become advocates for their child with autism (Autism Speaks, n.d.). Being an advocate means being proactive, collaborative, and understanding of the needs of a child with or without autism. The parents may feel overwhelmed with their responsibilities, but reaching out to the different service providers or team members working with their child with autism is helpful.
Special Education Teacher
The role of the special education teacher is to make sure that students with ASD have an inclusive classroom where they can learn different academic skills in math, reading, and writing as part of their IEP. Aside from that, the special education teacher also provides behavior strategies to help students identify what to do if they feel overwhelmed with so much work, like going to a calming corner or asking for help. The SPED teacher also makes sure that accommodations are implemented in the general education classroom.
General Education Teacher
The role of the general education teacher is to provide different strategies to help students with autism be successful in the classroom (IRIS, n.d.). The general education teacher should work closely with the special education teacher and case manager to make sure that appropriate accommodations are accessible for the student with autism. The general education teacher should also make sure that the student with autism is welcomed and valued the same as the other students.
Administrator
The administrator is the principal or the special education program specialist or manager who is knowledgeable about the different services or resources the individual with autism may have. Their role is to make sure that the student with autism is offered a free, appropriate public education.
School Psychologist
The role of the school psychologist is to identify different supports for the student with autism by providing assessments in collaboration with other service providers. They also make sure to provide help academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally to students with autism.
Speech-Language Pathologist
The role of the speech language pathologist is to help students with ASD improve their receptive and expressive language. Moreover, they also help students with ASD work on their social skills by teaching them different ways to interact with other peers in a social setting.
Occupational Therapist
The role of the occupational therapist is to provide different sensory tools that the student with ASD can use in the classroom, like fidgets, wobble cushions, or tactile sensory toys. They also help students with ASD who are struggling with their fine motor skills, like students who have trouble writing letters and numbers correctly.
Board Certified Behavior Analyst
BCBA are experts in dealing with the students' behavior. The students with ASD benefit from their support by implementing different behavior strategies in the classroom and at home in collaboration with the teachers and parents.
Physical Therapist
A physical therapist helps individuals with ASD strengthen their muscles, correct their posture, and enhance their balance. For instance, the goal of this kind of treatment is to assist a child in developing strength and muscle control so that the youngster may play with other kids more readily.
Paraprofessional
Paraprofessionals, or what we call instructional aides, are the individuals who assist special education teachers in supporting students with ASD in the classroom. They can provide support with behavior management and achieving academic goals.
Vocational Specialist
Vocational specialists concentrate on career development and preparing students for independence and integration into a post-secondary school, job, or community setting. They have enough knowledge about post-secondary education and employment possibilities. They help individuals with ASD prepare for a job.
Adapted Physical Education Teacher
An adaptive physical education teacher may assess students with ASD to create, modify, and carry out customized physical education programs as indicated in the IEP document.
Pediatrician
Pediatricians are responsible for identifying the early indications of autism. Pediatricians are a great resource, particularly for parents who are looking for autism services for their first child.
Nutritionist
The nutritionist supervised the student with autism eating habits, preferences, and the right food they needed to intake. Any physical health difficulties, such as gastrointestinal problems, which are frequent in children with autism, will also be considered during the examination.
Social Worker
School social workers assist and collaborate with other members of the team for students with autism (Olaitan, 2013). They can provide additional support to the families of students with autism and give them advice and strategies that can be done at home.
The main role of parents or guardians is to become advocates for their child with autism (Autism Speaks, n.d.). Being an advocate means being proactive, collaborative, and understanding of the needs of a child with or without autism. The parents may feel overwhelmed with their responsibilities, but reaching out to the different service providers or team members working with their child with autism is helpful.
Special Education Teacher
The role of the special education teacher is to make sure that students with ASD have an inclusive classroom where they can learn different academic skills in math, reading, and writing as part of their IEP. Aside from that, the special education teacher also provides behavior strategies to help students identify what to do if they feel overwhelmed with so much work, like going to a calming corner or asking for help. The SPED teacher also makes sure that accommodations are implemented in the general education classroom.
General Education Teacher
The role of the general education teacher is to provide different strategies to help students with autism be successful in the classroom (IRIS, n.d.). The general education teacher should work closely with the special education teacher and case manager to make sure that appropriate accommodations are accessible for the student with autism. The general education teacher should also make sure that the student with autism is welcomed and valued the same as the other students.
Administrator
The administrator is the principal or the special education program specialist or manager who is knowledgeable about the different services or resources the individual with autism may have. Their role is to make sure that the student with autism is offered a free, appropriate public education.
School Psychologist
The role of the school psychologist is to identify different supports for the student with autism by providing assessments in collaboration with other service providers. They also make sure to provide help academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally to students with autism.
Speech-Language Pathologist
The role of the speech language pathologist is to help students with ASD improve their receptive and expressive language. Moreover, they also help students with ASD work on their social skills by teaching them different ways to interact with other peers in a social setting.
Occupational Therapist
The role of the occupational therapist is to provide different sensory tools that the student with ASD can use in the classroom, like fidgets, wobble cushions, or tactile sensory toys. They also help students with ASD who are struggling with their fine motor skills, like students who have trouble writing letters and numbers correctly.
Board Certified Behavior Analyst
BCBA are experts in dealing with the students' behavior. The students with ASD benefit from their support by implementing different behavior strategies in the classroom and at home in collaboration with the teachers and parents.
Physical Therapist
A physical therapist helps individuals with ASD strengthen their muscles, correct their posture, and enhance their balance. For instance, the goal of this kind of treatment is to assist a child in developing strength and muscle control so that the youngster may play with other kids more readily.
Paraprofessional
Paraprofessionals, or what we call instructional aides, are the individuals who assist special education teachers in supporting students with ASD in the classroom. They can provide support with behavior management and achieving academic goals.
Vocational Specialist
Vocational specialists concentrate on career development and preparing students for independence and integration into a post-secondary school, job, or community setting. They have enough knowledge about post-secondary education and employment possibilities. They help individuals with ASD prepare for a job.
Adapted Physical Education Teacher
An adaptive physical education teacher may assess students with ASD to create, modify, and carry out customized physical education programs as indicated in the IEP document.
Pediatrician
Pediatricians are responsible for identifying the early indications of autism. Pediatricians are a great resource, particularly for parents who are looking for autism services for their first child.
Nutritionist
The nutritionist supervised the student with autism eating habits, preferences, and the right food they needed to intake. Any physical health difficulties, such as gastrointestinal problems, which are frequent in children with autism, will also be considered during the examination.
Social Worker
School social workers assist and collaborate with other members of the team for students with autism (Olaitan, 2013). They can provide additional support to the families of students with autism and give them advice and strategies that can be done at home.