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What do we know about Special Education? Well, in the School of Education we love learning from Dr. Clara Hauth and Dr. Nicci Dowd. Recently, both of them represented our school presenting \u201cEnhancing Your Teacher Toolbox: Supporting Your Students with Autism and ADHD with Executive Functioning Skills in the Inclusive Classroom\u201d for the faculty at Holy Spirit School in the diocese of Arlington. <\/span><\/p>\n Relying on their combined 60 years of experience on the topic, Dr. Hauth\u2019s and Dr. Dowd\u2019s presentation consisted of providing teachers, from kindergarten through 8<\/span>th<\/span> grade, strategies and interventions for classroom instruction to successfully teach and engage students with autism and ADHD. Their presentation included providing background information on the myths and then clarifying facts about autism\u2014one fact being that autism is a disorder in which 1 in 54 students receive a diagnosis and the numbers are growing, said Dr. Dowd. When asked what she hopes to accomplish with the workshop, Dr. Dowd answered, \u201cThat teachers will walk away with the tools they need to implement the strategies presented.\u201d When teaching students with special needs, Dr. Hauth and Dr. Dowd emphasized the importance of establishing a positive and active relationship with the students and their families, having high expectations of the students, embracing different ways to teach students with special needs, and giving students choices of activities.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cEmpathy,\u201d responded Dr. Dowd, to the question of what Catholic value is necessary to the objective of creating a more inclusive classroom, \u201cbeing able to relate to the students; treating people the way you wanted to be treated.\u201d She and her colleague expressed similar sentiments. Dr. Hauth, to the same question, chanted, \u201cEveryone is welcome. Take people for who they are and embrace them.\u201d They emphasized the significance of keeping Christ at the center of education because teachers are walking examples of Him and His mission. All students, which include students with autism and ADHD, need to be embraced and attended to with patience and encouragement. <\/span><\/p>\n