Myers Elementary Works to Improve Understanding of Students with Autism

As part of Autism Acceptance Month, Myers Elementary hosted an autism acceptance event Tuesday that gave students the opportunity to understand what it is like for students with autism to function in the world with hands-on, interactive stations focused on communication and sensory needs. A secondary goal was for neurotypical students to learn how to better engage with their neurodivergent peers.

Some students with autism may have a hard time with communication. Many use devices like an iPad or sign language to help them communicate. They may also have a high sensitivity to sensory things like loud noises or materials on clothing, which makes focusing difficult.

Following a program featuring district administration, students engaged with two communication stations and two sensory stations to learn what it’s like to live with autism. The communication stations illustrate for neurotypical students how difficult it can be to communicate as a person with autism, either by using an electronic device or sign language. The sensory stations show what it’s like to try to focus as a student with autism.
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