PALs (Play and Learn for Autism)
- WHAT:
- P.A.L.'s is a program that was created to help children with autism learn appropriate social skills, behavior and communication through peer interaction.
- WHO:
- Fourth and Fifth grade student volunteers work side-by-side with Kindergarten through fifth grade students with autism on a weekly basis.
- WHEN:
- Fourth grade volunteers work on a weekly basis for 45 minutes in a large group setting. Fifth grade volunteers work on a daily basis for 30 to 45 minutes in a small group setting.
- WHERE:
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- Instruction and peer interactions occur in the classroom, on the school ground and periodically in the community.
- HOW:
- This program is made possible by strong team collaboration between special education, regular education, administration, parents and students.
- THE PROCESS:
- * General meeting with fourth and fifth grade teachers for nominations
- * General meeting with nominees and invitation to participate
- * Parental permission to participate
- * P.A.L.'s orientation - includes an explanation of duties, signing of contract/rules, and an introduction to journals
- * Schedule students
- * Introductory lesson with students
- * Students participate weekly throughout the year
- * Mid-year question and answer session
- * End of year question and answer session
- * Year end celebration
- WHY? For the general education students:
- These students benefit by gaining knowledge and experience that they can apply to life-long learning.
- * Peer acceptance
- * Sense of belonging to a community
- * Increases patience
- * Provides exposure
- * Teaches acceptance
- * Increases responsibility
- * Increases understanding
- * Provides leadership opportunities
- * Increases motivation
- * Teaches problem solving
- * Self-esteem
- * Provides self-reflection
- WHY? - For the students with autism:
- The children with autism benefit by gaining skills that are otherwise difficult for them to obtain.
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* Peer acceptance
* Sense of belonging to a community
* Develop communication skills
* Learn appropriate behavior through positive role models
* Become more responsive to others
* Increases motivation
* Increases self-esteem
* Opportunity to generalize learned skills
* Increases independence
* Increases self-confidence
* Establish and maintain friendships
QUESTIONS?
- Kobi Goodloe, Speech Therapist kgoodloe@wcpss.net
- Lori Young, AU I Teacher lyoung@wcpss.net
- Lynn Semyck, AU II Teacher lsemyck@wcpss.net
