Teachers should: 1) Get permission from and talk to the parents of the child with autism before discussing the child's autism with the class. 2) Explain to parents that educating classmates benefits their child and other children's understanding. 3) Respect the parents' decision about how much of the discussion is specific to their child. When discussing differences with the class, teachers should: 1) Emphasize that everyone has strengths and challenges. 2) Make clear the classroom is a safe environment for all children. 3) Assure children that the teacher is in control if any unsafe behaviors occur.

1. Please note: In this section, “parents” are referred to as the parents of children with autism spectrum
disorders. “Teachers” are referred to as teachers of children in inclusive classrooms (i.e. the classroom
includes both typically developing children as well as children with special needs.)
Eliciting Parent’s Opinion about Classroom Discussion of Autism Spectrum Disorders
Teachers:
• Need to talk to the parents of the child on the autism spectrum before talking to the
class as a whole about the child.
• Need to get permission from the parents of the child on the autism spectrum before
talking to the class as a whole about the child.
• Should assure parents that it’s a benefit for their child and for the typically developing
children in the classroom to learn about their child (on the autism spectrum).
(Explaining that the typically developing children will better understand the child on
the autism spectrum through education/awareness, for example).
-Children in class might wonder why the child on the autism spectrum reacts so
strongly or negatively to loud noises, for example. The teacher could explain that loud
noises scare the child, and then ask, “What scares you? What do you do when you are
scared?” It helps to relate the situation back to the experiences of the children in the
classroom.
• If parents do not want the teacher to talk to the class about their child on the autism
spectrum specifically, then the teacher can have a more general conversation with the
class about differences in children.
Parents:
• Should decide to what extent the teacher talks about their child specifically.
(Whether to use the term “autism”, for example)
• Do the parents want their child to be in the classroom while this conversation is going
on?
• Do the parents want to be in the classroom with the teacher and children while this
conversation is going on?

2. The Talk: Issues Teachers Should Consider
Respect and Understanding of Differences
• It’s a good idea to have children in the class talk about their strengths and
weaknesses
In elementary school, for example, academics and social learning occurs. It’s helpful
for children to talk about the areas that are easier and harder for them in terms of
academic and social learning.
A child in class might express that he finds some aspects of math to be a challenge.
The teacher can point out that the child on the autism spectrum finds communicating
with other children to be a challenge, for example.
The teacher should point out that everyone has something to work on/something that
they find to be challenging.
Safety
• Children need to feel safe. It is important that the teacher makes it very clear
to the children in their class that they are safe
• They also need to know that the teacher is safe and child on the autisim
spectrum is safe.
For example, the child on the autism spectrum might display aggressive behavior and/
or is being restrained. The other children need to know that the child on the spectrum
is being kept safe, and that they and the teacher and will be kept safe as well.
• The children need to know that the teachers are in control of the situation.
References

3. Interview with Darilyn Donovan, Principal of the Lowell Elementary School,
Watertown, MA.
Interview with Patricia Torchio, First grade teacher at the Hosmer Elementary School,
Watertown, MA.