Assessing Autism Part 2

The second part of this video was very interesting.  It was interesting that the speakers did not show preference over assessments used when working with Children with autism; this is very important when assessing children because every child is different and has many unique features.  It is important to choose the assessment that best fits the needs and purposed of the child and education team.

When assessing children in their environment it is important to observe in many different environments that the child is interacting with to gain a more accurate picture of their needs and wants.  I think that observations of the children in their different environments provide a better picture of the child because an individual can observe specific difficulties and possible strengths that might not be demonstrated on an assessment.  The speakers were stressing that some children are able to focus on certain tasks when in the classroom, but also miss other opportunities that might prevent them from learning.

Functional communication and social interactions are very important for children with autism.  If a child does not have a way in which for communicating their behaviors will increase and possibly intensify and social interactions help them learn from their peers.  These should be given more attention in the assessment process. They mentioned the ABC data sheet which is a helpful tool in suggesting what the possible functions of problems behaviors may have and will lead to interventions to lessen them.  The video was very informative in both conducting observations and assessments when developing educational goals for children with autism.