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The Autism Ambassadors Handbook
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The Autism Ambassadors Handbook
Peer Support for Learning, Growth, and Success

Foreword by Gary S. Katz


Courses:
Autism

June 2013 | 232 pages | Corwin

Sometimes, all a student needs to succeed is a friend.

Every day, thousands of students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) struggle to stay afloat at school—sometimes bullied, often ostracized. Mastering academics can be hard enough without the added challenge of navigating social situations that neurotypical kids take for granted. If students with ASD had a peer to model and reinforce socially appropriate behavior and coach them through schoolwork, it could help them feel at home in the student population.

This inspirational new book describes how to set up just such a peer-mentoring organization in your school or community. With a clear understanding of the needs of students with ASD and the kids who will be their guides, Kukoff provides:

  • Steps for organizing and implementing your own Autism Ambassadors program
  • Clear-cut guidelines on the responsibilities of student “ambassadors,” plus peer-support strategies to improve the ambassador experience
  • More than a hundred specific interventions any student can employ with students with ASD
  • A path for students with ASD to become Autism Ambassadors themselves

Based on the methodology of Applied Behavior Analysis—the gold standard in autism intervention—but created and led by students, the Autism Ambassadors curriculum will  promote leadership and improve the school experience for all students.

“This book makes a distinct contribution by providing a different view of how to support students with autism. As the number of people with autism is increasing, creating awareness and supports across larger groups of people is important.”
—Mary Reeve, Educator
Gallup McKinley County Schools, NM

“This is an amazing idea from a young innovator! This manual is a great contribution, not only to the field of professionals, but to future providers as well.”
—Kate Boone, Case Manager
MHMRA Harris County, Houston, TX


 
Foreword by Gary S. Katz
 
Preface
 
Part I. The Program
 
1. Autism And Society Today
 
2. Typical Students and Autism
 
3. The Importance of Peer Leadership: What the Research Says
 
4. Who and What is Autism Ambassadors?
 
5. What is an Ambassador?
 
6. Autism Ambassadors at Your School: The Nuts and Bolts of Implementation
 
7. Curriculum Overview
 
Part II. The Curriculum
 
Section 1. Younger/Lower Functioning Students
Pay Attention/ Calm Hands

 
Being Alone

 
Logical Sequencing

 
Passing the Baton

 
Washing Hands at School

 
 
Section 2. Academic/ In Class
Asserting Yourself in Class

 
Taking Notes

 
Giving an Oral Presentation in Class

 
Replacing Classroom Items

 
Switching Desks

 
Watching a Video in Class

 
Writing an Intro Paragraph

 
 
Section 3. School Related/ Out of Class
Writing a “Chunk” Paragraph

 
Writing a Concluding Paragraph

 
Fire/Emergency Drill

 
Getting to Class on Time

 
Organizing Your Time

 
Finding Favorite Books

 
Organizing Your Notebook

 
Study Hall

 
 
Section 4. Outing/ Extracurricular
The Bus Class

 
Trip/ Museum Class

 
Trip/ Zoo

 
Interviewing for a High School Job

 
 
Section 5. Social
Asking Someone Out on a Date

 
Cafeteria Etiquette

 
Cursing and Offensive Language

 
Explaining Your Diagnosis to Friends

 
Finding Friends at Lunch

 
Finding Favorite Popular Music

 
Joining a Club at School

 
Making a Plan

 
School Dance

 
 
Section 6. Sports
Playing Football

 
Playing Soccer

 
Playing Tag

 
Playing Tetherball

 
 
Part III. Appendices
Parent Letter

 
Frequently Asked Questions

 
Questionnaire

 
Evaluation Tool

 
 
About the Author

“This is an amazing idea from a young innovator! This manual provides an amazing contribution, not only to the field of professionals, but to future providers as well.”

Kate Boone, Case Manager
MHMRA Harris County, Houston, TX

“What’s not to like about The Autism Ambassadors Handbook? This book, written by a 18-year-old entrepreneur, provides a complete program that allows empathic students to teach vital skills to their autistic peers. Student-teachers, autistic students, and teachers all win with this curriculum. Did I mention that it is free to implement?”

Anne Beveridge
Branksome Hall Asia
Seoul, Korea

“This book makes a distinct contribution by providing a different view of how to support students with autism. As the number of people with autism is increasing, creating awareness and supports across larger groups of people is important. Providing ways for students with ASD to interact and be supported by other students is needed.”

Mary Reeve, Educator
Gallup McKinley County Schools, NM

"Zak Kukoff has provided a program curriculum that simply doesn't exist. This program is just what we were looking for.  It's one thing to teach kids to be nice and accepting; it’s another to teach kids how to engage with their peers who have autism. The students who learn from the modules become incredible peer models, mentors and leaders.  Autism Ambassadors truly bridges the gap in social development programs for children with autism."

Nicole Simon, Director of Programming
Variety, The Children's Charity
Key features
  • With over 100 modules, Autism Ambassadors prepares students for a wide variety of circumstances and interactions between neuro-typical and autistic students.
  • The student-lead peer support program offers students leadership and program development experience, promoting important social skills and leadership skills among the Autism Ambassadors.
  • Includes tools such as a questionnaire that pairs typical and atypical students based on similar interests, surveys, and evaluation forms.
  • Is designed and promotes students with Autism Spectrum Disorders to also become Autism Ambassadors.

For instructors

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ISBN: 9781483331003

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ISBN: 9781452235257
$41.95

This title is also available on SAGE Knowledge, the ultimate social sciences online library. If your library doesn’t have access, ask your librarian to start a trial.