This guide is written for children to help develop a better understanding of autism and includes activities that can help them relate to their peers on the spectrum. The fun awareness puzzles and activities will help kids learn the importance of building autism acceptance and give them ideas on how they can participate in April, Autism Awareness Month.
AN AUTISM NEW JERSEY RESOURCE
800.4.AUTISM www.autismnj.org
Stats & Facts
About Autism
Boys are approximately 4 times more likely than girls to have autism.
Autism affects how the brain works and can sometimes make it hard to talk, understand other people, or handle bright lights or loud sounds.
You are born with autism. Most families are told their child has autism before the age of three.
Every child is different and unique in their own way, and that includes children with autism.
A person with autism can make a great friend!
Autism Rates in The U.S. The number of kids with autism is growing.
YEAR
2000 2002 2006 2008 2010 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 1 IN 166 1 I N 150 1 IN 110 1 IN 88 1 IN 68 1 IN 59 1 IN 54 1 I N 44 1 I N 36 1 I N 31 36
RATE
1 I N 29
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10 Have Fun and Make a Difference! Kid-Friendly
ACTIVITIES
Read a book about autism. Ask your teacher or librarian for recommendations.
Ask your school to read a fact a day about autism in April.
Enter Autism New Jersey’s bookmark contest and design an awareness themed bookmark.
Share information with your family that you learned about autism.
Smile and say hello to a classmate who has autism.
Ask your favorite store or restaurant to hang autism acceptance posters .
Ask a teacher how to play with or help a friend who has autism.
Get permission from your town to organize a bake sale at a sports game or community event to raise funds for autism.
Tell your teacher and parents you would like to plan a walk-a-thon to raise funds for autism awareness.
You can order free stickers and posters at www.autismnj.org/awareness NEED SUPPLIES?
Make awareness themed pins and ask kids to wear them in April.
April is National Autism Month Plan activities to build acceptance during April and throughout the year!
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They have been friends since 2012 when they met while attending Howell High School, during Lindsay’s freshman year. Since meeting, Lindsay has accompanied Thomas to dances. She’s his biggest fan, cheering him on at his Special Olympics bowling tournaments and his basketball, soccer, and baseball games. Lindsay and Thomas WORDS FROM FRIENDS MEET Q: How did the friendship start?
L: Our friendship started from the adaptive physical education program at our high school. Thomas and I would spend time together in gym class. Q: What do you like to do together? T: I like to go to dances, lunch, and walks with my friend Lindsay. Q: What is one thing you wish everyone knew about Thomas? L: I wish everyone knew that his humor is one of a kind! Q: Name your 3 favorite things about Lindsay. T: My three favorite things about Lindsay is our friendship, her beautiful smile, and how she cares about me. what he is passionate about, especially when we talk about his favorite books and sayings. I want the community to be more accepting of people with autism and their families. Q: How does it make you feel when someone doesn’t treat Thomas nicely? L: It would make me feel extremely sad and anxious. Q: What do you want your community to understand about Thomas and autism? L: Thomas is a friend like no other! He enjoys sharing
FRIENDSHIP TIPS
Smile and say hello. You may not hear a hello back and that is OK.
Include them, invite them to sit with you at lunch or play a game on the playground.
If you’re not sure, ask a teacher how they communicate.
Find out what they are interested in.
Act like you usually would around a friend - just be yourself!
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Spot the 10 differences in the two piles of toys. Differences are what make us unique. SPOT the differences
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Answer key on page 9
These objects below are hidden in the picture. Can you find all 15? HIDDEN OBJECTS FIND THE
Notice that not one friend in this group is exactly like the other!
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Answer key on page 9
THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF KINDNESS Autism New Jersey’s new logo shows a ripple. A ripple happens when one small action spreads out, just like circles in water.
Color your very own ripple!
In the middle of your design, write one kind thing you will do this week. Have fun and let your kindness spread!
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Becomes a law How a need
Autism Awareness Matters Do you know why Autism Awareness is so important? It can lead to BIG changes for our friends with autism. Here is how a NEED can be turned into a BILL and passed in our government.
A representative sponsors the NEED and introduces it in the form of a BILL to a COMMITTEE.
Autism New Jersey shares a NEED the autism community has.
Autism New Jersey and supporters (like you!) write letters to our local representatives sharing the NEED . Local representatives are in two State Government groups called the ASSEMBLY and the SENATE.
In 2008, a new law was created requiring autism awareness training for all emergency responders, including police officers, firefighters, and EMTs. DID YOU KNOW
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GET INVOLVED To keep the autism community on the minds of our local government officials, we send letters every April, informing them that April is National Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month. Maybe your class would like to send a letter to your mayor! Go to www.autismnj.org/awareness to see a sample letter.
When the BILL receives a majority vote (more yes’s than no’s) in both houses, the BILL moves to the GOVERNOR for final APPROVAL.
If approved, the bill becomes a LAW !
If the COMMITTEE approves it, the BILL is put on a calendar to get voted on by the full ASSEMBLY and SENATE.
Making a Difference Autism New Jersey Ambassadors, “The Livingston Super 6,” educate their community each year by addressing the Livingston mayor and council about their effort to raise autism awareness to make a positive impact. The group encourages the township to recognize April as Autism Awareness Month.
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People with autism have many different things that they like to do and are good at. Every person is unique in their own special way. Are all people with autism the same? No. BEAUTIFULLY DIFFERENT
Mom, we’re birds like them too, right?
Yes, just a different kind!
Can we fly like them?
No, we can’t.
Unlike many birds, we can swim. They’re
What are these wings for then?
great for gliding through water!
This is fun!
ANSWER KEY
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“ spectrum”
Autism is a
of different skills,
challenges, behaviors, and interests.
EVERY person with autism is different. Learn how YOU are different from your classmates.
1.
2.
Then, ask friends the same three questions and see how different everyone’s answers are!
First, fill in the ABOUT YOU .
ABOUT YOU
FRIEND’S NAME:
FRIEND’S NAME:
Name your favorite activity.
What is something you would like to learn?
FRIEND’S NAME:
FRIEND’S NAME:
If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
FRIEND’S NAME:
FRIEND’S NAME:
FRIEND’S NAME:
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This book was created to remind us that being different is better than OK. It’s what makes us all unique and special. EVERYONE has the right to be accepted and deserves true friendship. We can shape the future by how we act TODAY.
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