Teaching Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Chapter Eight Planning Support for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Speech Language Pathologist
A speech language pathologist (SLP) assists a child and their
family in areas of communication development and supports the
school environment in order to facilitate optimal language learning
success. The SLP provides screening, assessment, consultation,
and program development for ASD children in the areas of
articulation, receptive language, expressive language, pragmatics,
reading, and written language development.
• Physiotherapist
The physiotherapist may provide consultative services for
ASD children around gross motor skills and challenges faced
by these children for gross motor planning. Within the context
of the educational environment, consultation around gym activities
may be provided for these children in order to meet their gross
motor needs.
• Dietitian
The dietitian has the expertise to assist children and their
families with nutritional counseling and advice in meeting
nutritional needs which are crucial for early childhood development.
As many ASD children have sensory issues related to food
and food intake concerns, the dietitian may be available to ensure
daily nutritional needs are met.
• Other Professional Services
Other EMP and Hospital professional services available for
consultation to professionals providing support to the ASD child
include social work, psychology, respiratory therapy, and nursing.
• Public Health Nurse
The Early Childhood Initiatives program provides a number
of services to infants and young children who, for a variety of
reasons, face a risk for developmental delay. Public Health nurses
monitor the child's growth and development, link families to
community resources and refer the child for additional professional
services as needed.
All preschoolers are invited to participate in the 3.5 Year Old
Health Clinic where a Public Health nurse conducts developmental
screening and with parental consent completes a health record
which will be forwarded to the school the child is expected to
attend.
In addition, Public Health nurses observe infants and
preschoolers at immunization clinics, and when concerns are noted
make recommendations to parents for further assessment.
96 Teaching Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders