Every Sunnyvale School District school celebrated Autism Acceptance Month in April.
Staff at many schools created tables with materials such as Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC) devices and communication boards; sensory items such as water beads, rice, and kinetic sand; sensory supports like vibrating pillows and spinny chairs; and items such as coloring sheets, rainbow stickers, friendship bracelets, and games designed to encourage thinking about how to be a good friend and show kindness.
The activities gave students the opportunity to increase their understanding of Autism and neurodiversity.
Staff invited parents to attend the Autism Acceptance Month activities, and some even visited tables at more than one school to support the effort!
Some highlights from Autism Acceptance Month:
- At SMS, voices of students with IEPs were highlighted in posters where students shared what they wanted their peers to know about them
- At Bishop, speech therapist Elizabeth Penaloza provided a poster-size communication board for students to practice communicating with pictures
- At Lakewood, a communication board was introduced to support nonverbal communication at recess.
- At Cherry Chase, Special Day Classes tie-dyed shirts with the infinity symbol (representing neurodiversity) on them
- At Fairwood, a student created a poster sharing about her own experience as a sibling with a brother on the Spectrum
