Orange County School program serves as model for autistic education
ORLANDO, Fla. -
They are extraordinary middle school students who dare to stray from their close circle of friends to lend a hand to others in need. They're part of a peer mentoring program for autistic students at Southwest Middle School which has become a model for schools across Orange County.
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As a peer mentor he works with the school's autistic children.
"In the beginning of this, it was hard to think of kids like this as just like me but I've learned that they are just like me, but with a different set of problems," said Harries.
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Besides nurturing the peer mentor program she has also designed a special space for the children called a Sensory Room.
"I realize they have sensory needs they need fulfilled throughout the day. If we don't accommodate those needs, we are going to have behaviors and we are not going to get as much out of them academically as we could," said Meena.
http://www.clickorlando.com/news/Orange-County-School-program-serves-as-model-for-autistic-education/-/1637132/8501342/-/rn9a00/-/index.html