autistic/emotionally disturbed students

[schoolnursejennie]

hi all. i am starting a new job as a school nurse for special needs students. some of the students are autistic and some have emotional disturbances. i dont have any experience dealing with kids who have these types of disturbances. my question is how do you relate to these kids? do you speak to them as if they are "normal?" or is there a certain way to approach them? any advice would be greatly appreciated. thanks!

[schooldistrictnurse]

My best advice would be to do some research on the conditions your students have. You might find it helpful to think about seeing the world through their "lens". Students with autism spectrum disorder see things in a very concrete way and struggle with abstract thinking. That is their "normal." Remember also that the politically correct way to think about your students is that they are students with ________. They are not solely defined by their diagnosis, therefore they are not "autistic students." We say "student with diabetes" instead of diabetic student.

Enjoy your new world!

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

Schooldistrictnurse offers up some sound advice. I find that the way i treat a student is usually a direct reaction of what i perceive them to need. Some students (probably most) can have normal average interactions with you. There will be a few that you may need to approach differently. There will be plenty of times you will need to "think outside the box" to solve an issue or figure out what is wrong. Enjoy your students. They can and will amaze you. They will find a way into your heart. and they will teach you as much as you can teach them.

[schoolnursejennie]

thanks :)