Why Didn't They Just Say That?: Teaching secondary students with high-functioning autism to decode the social world using PEERSPECTIVE

by Jennifer Schmidt M.Ed., Sean Barron (Foreword by)

Overview

"Let's create a class instead of the typical social skills programs!" With this statement began the development of this innovative evidence-based curriculum for secondary students with ASD and their neurotypical (NT) peers. PEERspective is a complete curriculum that teaches high school students self-awareness, self-acceptance, relationship building, conflict resolution, managing stress and wellness, and many other topics that have lifelong impact on students' lives. The curriculum is popular among students with ASD as well as their NT peers, leading to friendships and relationships far beyond the classroom.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781942197348
Publisher:	Future Horizons, Inc.
Publication date:	11/07/2017
Series:	PEERspective
Pages:	168
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Mrs. Jennifer M. Schmidt, M.Ed., is an Intervention Specialist (Special Educator) at Beavercreek High School in Beavercreek, Ohio. Jennifer has 25 years of teaching experience in both general and special education settings. She began working closely with students with autism while teaching in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and was trained in the TEACCH method. At BHS, Jennifer and her now retired Speech & Language Pathologist colleague piloted their Communication Class in the fall of 2007, and the class continues to this day and utilizes the PEERspective Learning Approach; since then, neighboring school districts have adopted the same model with similar success. 

Mrs. Schmidt is a passionate educator who enjoys presenting at local, state, and international conferences about Communication Class, autism, and training general education teachers to work with students with autism (mild-moderate). She was recognized as Beavercreek City Schools Teacher of the Year in 2012, and in 2014 was awarded the Beavercreek Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year recognition as a result of her innovative Communication Class. Mrs. Schmidt stays active teaching at workshops, through her role as a lead teacher on the Autism Coalition Team, at Beavercreek High School, and at local colleges. She is passionate about helping other schools find success in teaching pragmatic language to students on the spectrum through Communication Class.

Read an Excerpt

For far too long, we have looked at exceptionalities, such as autism, as a problem to be solved. When Joseph proudly announced that he was beginning to see his autism as a gift, I knew that the paradigm had shifted. Do people on the spectrum have to overcome challenges to find success in life? Sure, but don’t we all? It’s time we start shifting our thinking towards a new approach to intentionally teach these skills, and PEERspective allows us to do that.

Editorial Reviews

This book contains all the steps and lesson plans needed to implement PEERspective in your school.

The dually beneficial model is an asset both to students with high-functioning autism and to their peer

coaches. The author’s years of experience in the classroom have led to tried-and-true outcomes that can

be achieved by anyone with a passion to help students improve and generalize social skills for successful

participation in school, the community, and life beyond high school. Utilizing 21 evidence-based

practices and authentic exposure through typical high school activities such as trips to the mall, school

dances, football games and movie theaters, PEERspective allows students to come together both in and

out of the school environment for additional opportunities to practice skills learned in the class and

apply them to real-life.” 

– 

Heather J. Bridgman, MS, ATP, assistive technology consultant, Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence; coauthor of the award-winning book Show Me! A Teacher’s Guide to Video Modeling

Why Didn’t They Just Say That? furnishes any middle or high school educator with the tools needed to

implement the PEERspective class model into their own schools. My hope is that it will lead to

widespread use of the PEERspective class idea throughout the country as I have watched it provide

invaluable life lessons to both my daughter with ASD and my neurotypical children who have taken the

class. Specifically, I have witnessed how personal growth, increased self-esteem, and improved

interpersonal skills resulting from this model bring happiness and feelings of belonging to students who

have largely never experienced any of these attributes. I cannot say enough about the positive

difference the PEERspective class has made in my daughter’s life in addition to our family as a whole.” 

–

Audrey Ernst, BA, JD; parent of HFA student and neurotypical student who have completed PEERspective class; host of PEERspective and SCC events

“PEERspective is a unique model that facilitates social skill development and peer-mediated intervention

using evidence-based best practices with a focus on students with high-functioning autism. The book

includes practical tips on how to get started, along with a detailed eight-unit curriculum guide, taking

the guesswork out of replicating the program. By themselves, the handouts and evidence-based

strategies described in the book can be adapted and used by special educators and speech-language

pathologists as part of their intervention. Schmidt’s insights into and commitment to her students spring

from every page as she shares drawings, quotes, and case stories help the reader better understand not

only the challenges, but also the insight and gifts her students give back. I would love to see more high

schools using this comprehensive and effective model.”

 – 

Carol A. Dittoe, MA, CCC-SLP, speech-language pathologist, certified autism specialist; coauthor of Show Me! A Teacher’s Guide to Video Modeling and Gear Up for Success: A Three-Tiered Planning Model for Supporting Learners on the Autism Spectrum

From the Publisher