Just 20 years ago, we didn't see students with autism in our classrooms. But today, we teach children with high-functioning autism and Asperger's Syndrome right alongside their neurotypical peers. Reaching and teaching these students requires a delicate balancing act: understanding how their brains are wired, helping them turn challenges into opportunities, and learning to enjoy the rich perspective they bring to the classroom.

If you've ever had a student who blurted out in class, screamed when someone patted his or her shoulder, or rocked back and forth in the chair, you'll appreciate the lessons ahead. We'll discover the neurobiology behind these disorders and the way it affects students' behavior, learning, and thinking. Most important, you'll learn creative, easy, low-budget strategies to help these kids succeed in the classroom and beyond.

Develop the skills to counter these students' social awkwardness, sensory sensitivities, meltdowns, problems with homework completion, language reciprocity issues, and violent fixations. Even if you don't have a student with high-functioning autism or Asperger's Syndrome in your class this year, these strategies will equip you to deal with any student who exhibits these characteristics on a regular basis.

A new section of each course starts monthly. If enrolling in a series of two or more courses, please be sure to space the start date for each course at least two months apart.

All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do not have to be present when lessons are released. You will have access to all lessons until the course ends. However, the interactive discussion area that accompanies each lesson will automatically close two weeks after the lesson is released. As such, we strongly recommend that you complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.

The final exam will be released on the same day as the last lesson. Once the final exam has been released, you will have two weeks to complete all of your course work, including the final exam.

Internet access, e-mail, the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Web browser, and the Adobe Flash and PDF plug-ins (two free and simple downloads you obtain at http://www.adobe.com/downloads by clicking Get Adobe Flash Player and Get Adobe Reader).

This course includes a knowledgeable and caring instructor who will guide you through your lessons, facilitate discussions, and answer your questions. The instructor for this course will be Ellen Arnold.

A veteran educator, Ellen Arnold has been a reading specialist at the primary level, a social studies and reading teacher at the middle school level, and a special educator at the high school level. Ellen has spent years helping learners unlock their potential. She holds a bachelor's degree in secondary education and a master's degree in special education—credentials that prepared her to see each student for his or her greatest strengths. Ellen has taught hundreds of students and teachers the secrets to creating highly effective classrooms.

“ Oh, I could just cry! I had a student who was brilliant and EXACTLY the type discussed in this particular lesson. I should have - wish that I had - taken this course YEARS ago. I could have helped so many more of my students. While we are usually a school of "typical" students we have had our darlings as described in these Lessons - how my heart aches for what I could have been doing for them! I am so thankful for this course - in more ways that I can count - and it is changing how I approach my lessons for this upcoming year for ALL my students. Thank you, Ellen. Thank you so very much. ”

“ This class opened a new door for learning, and was every bit worth the effort and the money. Though I do not personally know you, I feel warm toward you as a teacher. This method and your delivery were very beneficial for me. I plan to use this material to improve my skills and empower my students. Also, you were very prompt in your responses in the discussion area. I always looked forward to reading your response as well as any other student's response. Thank you again and I will not be as hesitant next time to take an online course. ”

“ In addition to being a classroom teacher, I am also a grandmother of the most wonderful little boy who has some signs of AS, according to the best experts we can find at highly respected Universities and elsewhere. Lesson 10, as well as other lessons in this course, are right on the mark in picturing AS as it really, really is. My 6 year old grandson shares the AS experience by fixating on drawing and talking about anything that he perceives as robotic over and over and over again because that scares him in a way that no one understands including him. He is very verbal, has an IQ of 150+, but was/is always asking questions like why do other kids WANT to play with me, why can't I write, color, and use a spoon like others in my class. He talks about violent behaviors, not to do them, but as our instructor points out, to somehow lessen his fears of violence. We do not know how he even knows about such things. He is loving, and out going at home. His wonderful kindergarten teacher and school have made a world of difference in his life and by that his family's also. I wanted all of you to know that the lessons presented in this course are about real people and that they also really work. My child will probably never play a team sport, but might discover another solar system with the telescope he intends to build by himself. I just wanted to say thank you. I have learned so much from this class. I can't wait to implement the strategies in my classroom. You made the lessons so easy to understand. As I was reading thru each lesson, I had a several "ah, ah" moments. It has made me look at several of my students differently and think of new ways to help them. If you know of any other classes on Autism, I would love to know about them. Again thank you for a wonderful class. I hope to take another class with you one day. :) Janice ”

“ I cannot believe how much I learned in this course! Thank you so much! I learned valuable information, tips and techniques for working effectively with students who have Asperger's or High Functioning Autism! I really appreciated the visuals, especially the explanation regarding how the brain functions differently. I found in this course realistic, valuable and effective strategies. Thank you again! ”

“ The biggest thing I have learned from this class is to take more time to actually listen to and tune in to what makes students with HFA/AS tick. I thought I had before, but each lesson has given me more food for thought. ”

“ Too many times you hear the information and strategies that will help students with Autism, but you don't really understand why you use them. I like being able to have a sense of what these students are dealing with and all that they have to overcome in a day. The activities and descriptions from this class have allowed me a better understand how students with Autism and Asperger's process information and why it is so important that we use these specific strategies to assist our students. Thank you for a great class! ”

“ I have to say this course is turning out to be wonderful for me! It has helped me to put words on the things I am seeing in and about this child who has been diagnosed Autistic. I am using many of the strategies and suggestions to help him feel more at ease, less anxious(a personal agenda on his desk, a quiet area in the room where he can go when he feels the need) and more verbal with his classmates. I am going to begin working on a couple Social Stories with him. I just love the information you are provided. ”