Raising Autism Awareness

Alycia Wilber

awilber@schools.nyc.gov

Queens United Middle School

INTRODUCTION:

Imagine this: The New York City Department of Health has launched a new initiative to make our city a more understanding and supportive place for people with autism. They've noticed that many people still don't know what autism really is, and this lack of understanding can lead to unfair treatment, confusion, or isolation.

That's where YOU come in.

You and your team have just been hired as public outreach consultants. Your mission? Research, develop, and present a campaign that will help New Yorkers better understand autism, break down harmful myths, and suggest ways our city can be more inclusive.

Enjoy this video to learn more:

Amazing Things Happen!

TASK

Your team will create an Autism Awareness Campaign that includes:

● A clear explanation of autism

● A visual or written public message (poster, pamphlet, or PSA script to be performed)

● Suggested solutions or supports NYC and QUMS can implement

● A presentation to the “Department of Health” (your class!)

PROCESS

Grouping: Students work in teams of 3–4.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Define the Problem

○ Discuss: Why is autism awareness important?

○ Read: What Is Autism? – KidsHealth.org

○ Read: “I Have Autism. Here’s What I Want You to Know” - Scholastic News

○ Watch: What is Autism? - PBS Kids

○ Watch: Meet Julia - A Muppet with Autism

2. Gather the Evidence

○ CDC

○ Autism Speaks Annual Report

○ National Autistic Society

○

3. Identify the Causes

○ Discuss in groups: Why do people misunderstand autism?

○ Create a cause-effect graphic organizer

4. Evaluate an Existing Policy

○ Review: NYC Department of Education’s Autism Resources page

○ Review: NYS Department of Health Autism Resources Page

○ Analyze: What’s working? What’s missing?

5. Develop Solutions

○ Brainstorm: What could be added to NYC’s current awareness efforts?

○ Create: A list of possible campaign ideas

○ Links for inspiration: Magrid.education, crestline.com, autismspeaks.org

○ Complete the developing public policy solutions worksheet

6. Select the Best Solution

○ Compare ideas using a Feasibility vs. Effectiveness chart

○ Choose and begin creating your awareness product

○ Complete the Feasibility Chart worksheet

EVALUATION

Category	4 – Excellent	3 – Good	2 – Developing	1 – Beginning
Research & Understanding	Deep, thorough understanding with strong evidence	Mostly accurate with good examples	Some understanding with few details	Lacks understanding or inaccurate
Campaign Clarity & Creativity	Clear message, highly creative, engaging	Clear and somewhat creative	Message needs more clarity	Unclear or confusing message
Group Collaboration	Worked well together, shared responsibility	Mostly cooperative with minor issues	Uneven participation	Poor collaboration
Presentation	Confident, organized, effective visuals	Mostly clear and organized	Somewhat unclear or disorganized	Hard to follow or incomplete
Feasibility & Effectiveness	Realistic and likely to make an impact	Realistic with some potential	Needs improvement in feasibility or impact	Unlikely to work or unrealistic

CONCLUSION

As outreach consultants for NYC’s Department of Health, you’ve taken real steps toward making your community more inclusive. Your campaign helped others understand autism—and perhaps you learned something new, too.

What surprised you most? How could your ideas help schools, businesses, or public spaces? What would you do next if this were a real job?

STANDARDS:

Social Studies (NYS Social Studies Framework Grade 6):

● 6.1a: Students will explore how societies address individual rights and responsibilities.

● 6.3a: Students will examine how groups respond to societal needs through policy and action.

ELA (Next Gen ELA Standards):

● RI.6.1: Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says.
W.6.7: Conduct short research projects to answer a question.

● SL.6.4: Present claims and findings, sequencing ideas logically.