A Complete Guide to Teaching Art to Those with Autism

Book excerpt: Featuring 100 exciting hands-on easily reproducible art projects including visual examples, illustrations, and one-step directions; so that all lessons can be taught successfully with no previous art experience necessary. This one-of-a-kind comprehensive how-to-guide is an unparalleled resource for both teachers and parents who wish to promote independence through the effective intervention of art to those with ASD. An overview of its contents includes: Basic Facts About ASD provides the necessary information about the multiple types of autism and the typical disabilities associated with each, while drawing awareness to the prevalence of this disorder. Schematic Art Developmental Stages includes descriptions and illustrations so that students work can be easily evaluated assessing their current status. Foundational Instructional Elements contains insights into teaching art to those with ASD including building life skills, multidisciplinary connections, and current comparative art therapy practices. Review of Literature is an outline of the historical development of art education emphasizing its importance throughout history. Successful Art Model Programs reviews examples of effective curriculum showing arts positive impact on student achievement. The Elements and Principles of Design provides a multitude of visual examples and extensive definitions in a concise manner for easy understanding of these foundational concepts inherent to any quality art program. Building an Art Cabinet offers descriptions, techniques, and vocabulary in a detailed overview of the vast array of medium types and supplies, including suggestions as to what essentials to stock. Planning an Art Curriculum contains all of the necessary step-by-step components to begin writing an art curriculum, preparing the classroom, and implementing classroom rules and safety procedures. Individual Developmental Concerns features ways to obtain student-centered information enabling you to understand students strengths, weaknesses, learning styles, and sensitivities. Designing a Curriculum addresses requirements that should be taught, implemented, and incorporated within curriculum design, including core subjects, in order to improve student disabilities. Effective Teaching Strategies gives practical suggestions for helping students excel throughout the art process and within the curriculum. Behavior Management Techniques lists formal support plan suggestions and modifications, reward systems, and mediation impulse control ideas. Implementing a Curriculum helps you identify lesson selection and unit construction through samples, in order to implement long and short term goals, including an easy to fill out objectives form. Evaluation Procedures suggests multiple means of assessment in a variety of formats including a rubric scoring guide. Instructor and Parental Participation contains additional information for the Art Educator, Special Education Teacher, and Home Schooled Parent.