4 Autism Classroom Smart Boards
As a parent of two autistic elementary school students, I see first hand the alarming lack of vital autism education resources in public schools. For want of funding, dedicated teachers and parents watch their bright students on the Spectrum struggle to meet their potential without equipment better-funded schools consider standard material for special education classes, especially "Smart" Interactive Whiteboards.
These boards, when combined with good teaching, improve ASD student behavior supplement analytical classroom discussion, including graphics, audio, visual support, linguistic tools, drawing capabilities and speech bubbles. Students are engaged in what they’re learning, rather than just watching. Whiteboards can captivate autistic students, who struggle with attention deficit disorder and reciprocal relationships on varying scales. Interactive whiteboards’ multisensory tools allow students to attend through visual means.
Whiteboards also aid in mainstreaming special education students in general education classrooms. Sadly, students with special needs often become isolated from their peers. Special Needs teachers (especially those in autism spectrum disorder education) have a classroom with a smorgasbord of student needs they have to accommodate. PCs and iPads work well as a personal tool but don't further the fundamental goals of learning in a group as whiteboards do. kids develop a respect for each other, take turns and increase their attention span by nearly an hour through the visual components.
Help raise the funds to make Battle Creek Elementary in St. Paul's autism program an example of the amazing benefits of having the proper tools for ASD education, so that in future we can go to legislators and school boards to lobby for the funding of these essential boards in every special educational classroom.