( CNN Student News ) -- Record the CNN Special Investigations Unit Classroom Edition : Autism is a World when it airs commercial-free on Monday , March 31 , 2008 from approximately 4:00 -- 5:00 a.m . ET on CNN . ( A short feature begins at 4:00 a.m. and precedes the program . ) Program Overview . For years , Sue Rubin says she was `` her own worst nightmare . '' Sue has autism , and until age 13 , she was unable to communicate or control her unusual behavior . Now in her late twenties , Sue has become a disabled-rights advocate and a college student with a top IQ . In the Academy Award-nominated documentary Autism is a World , filmmaker Gerry Wurzburg and CNN take a rare look at autism through the words of a young woman who lives with it . Grade Levels : 9-12 , college . Subject Areas : Health , Social Studies , Technology , Current Issues . Objectives : The CNN Special Investigations Unit Classroom Edition : Autism is a World and its corresponding discussion questions and activities challenge students to : . Curriculum Connections . Health . Standard 1 . Knows the availability and effective use of health services , products , and information . Level IV [ Grade : 9-12 ] . Benchmark 5 . Knows situations that require professional health services in the areas of prevention , treatment , and rehabilitation . Standard 3 . Understands the relationship of family health to individual health . Level IV [ Grade : 9-12 ] . Benchmark 1 . Understands methods to facilitate the transition from the role of a child to the role of an independent adult in the family . Standard 4 . Knows how to maintain mental and emotional health . Level IV [ Grade : 9-12 ] . Benchmark 2 . Knows strategies for coping with and overcoming feelings of rejection , social isolation , and other forms of stress . Content Knowledge : A Compendium of Standards and Benchmarks for K-12 Education ( Copyright 2000 McREL ) is published online by Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning ( McREL ) ( http : //www.mcrel.org/standards-benchmarks/ ) , 2550 S. Parker Road , Suite 500 , Aurora , CO 80014 ; Telephone : 303/337-0990 . Social Studies . Standard VIII . Science , Technology and Society : Students will examine the relationships among science , technology and society . The Curriculum Standards for Social Studies ( http : //www.socialstudies.org/standards/ ) are published by the National Council for the Social Studies ( http : //ncss.org/ ) . Discussion Questions . 1 . How old is Sue Rubin ? What type of disability does she have ? What symptoms does she display ? What is `` mental retardation '' ? How does mental retardation differ from autism ? Why do you think that Sue was thought to be mentally retarded when she was younger ? What was her life like before she could communicate ? How did she interpret sounds ? How does Sue feel about having been perceived as retarded ? 2 . How does Sue say she learned to communicate ? What type of device does she use to communicate ? How did Sue 's life change once she learned how to communicate ? Based on what you 've observed in the program , what gains has Sue made over the years in terms of managing her autistic behaviors ? 3 . How would you describe Sue 's relationships with her parents and grandparents ? What challenges did Sue 's parents face when raising Sue during her early years ? According to the program , what measures have Sue 's parents taken to help foster their daughter 's growth and development over the years ? In the program , Sue states , `` When I was n't able to communicate , I was considered a non-person , but I was treated well -- intellectually , socially , culturally and personally . '' What do you think that she means ? Why do you think that Sue considers herself lucky to have the family that she has ? 4 . Do you think that it is important for Sue to live independently ? What types of personal , financial and governmental assistance does Sue need to live in her own home ? What are Sue 's greatest short-term and long-term concerns about maintaining her independent lifestyle ? How would you describe Sue 's relationships with the different members of her support team ? What skills and attributes do you think that a person needs to have to work well with a non-verbal autistic person ? 5 . In what ways is Sue similar to people her age who are not autistic ? Do you think that Sue has the same capacity to experience emotions as non-autistic people ? Explain . How does Sue 's disorder impact her ability to express emotions ? 6 . According to Dr. Margaret Bauman , what is autism , and what parts of the brain can it affect ? According to the program , why did Sue respond so quickly to facilitated communication after having been `` lost in autism '' for 13 years ? Why are plastic spoons important to Sue ? Why does Sue like to run water over them ? In the show , Sue states that solitude is her `` best friend '' and her `` worst enemy . '' What do you think that she means ? 7 . What college does Sue attend ? Why did she select this school ? What challenges has she faced while at college ? How do you think that these challenges compare to the ones that many non-autistic college students face ? What is Sue 's academic major ? What type of work does she hope to do after she graduates ? How does attending school impact Sue 's ability to manage her autism ? 8 . To what audience did Sue deliver a speech about living with autism ? Why do you think that writing the speech was an `` arduous process '' for Sue ? Sue states that the goal of her speech was to `` enlighten individuals to the potential of their own voices . '' What do you think that she means ? Why do you think that Sue has chosen to pursue this goal ? 9 . Do you know someone that is autistic ? How has autism impacted this person and the lives of his or her loved ones ? What symptoms of autism does he or she have ? How do these symptoms compare to the ones displayed by Sue ? 10 . Why did Sue decide to make this documentary ? Why do you think that this documentary is titled Autism is a World ? Based on what you now know about Sue and what it 's like for her to live with autism , how would you describe Sue 's character ? What are her greatest strengths ? 11 . What are your thoughts and feelings regarding Autism is a World ? What insights or lessons about autism did you learn as a result of watching this program ? 12 . Having watched Autism is a World , do you have any follow-up questions you 'd like to ask Sue ? Suggested Activities . 1 . What are Autism Spectrum Disorders ? Inform students that , though the field of autism research is continuing to evolve , much has been learned about the disorder since the mid-1940s , when Dr. Leo Kanner published his first paper identifying autistic children , and Dr. Hans Asperger described a milder form of autism that became known as Asperger syndrome . Autism is considered a `` spectrum disorder '' because the number and intensity of symptoms can greatly vary among those with autism . Autism spectrum disorders ( ASD ) , which are also known as `` pervasive developmental disorders , '' can often be detected by the age of three . ASD is an umbrella term that includes the following diagnoses : . Divide your students into five groups and assign each group a different ASD from the list above . Instruct each group to conduct research to learn about the symptoms , characteristics and differentiated diagnoses associated with its assigned disorder . Then , have groups prepare presentations of their findings that include a brief mock case study to illustrate how the disorders might manifest in a child . After the presentations , challenge students to identify the common traits associated with all autistic disorders . ( All people with ASD have impaired communication , problems with social relationships and like to engage in repetitive motions . ) Ask students : . Following the discussion , refer students back to Autism is a World to make a list of the symptoms and behaviors that Sue Rubin displayed during the program . Then ask students : Based on what you know about Ms. Rubin , where would you say that her disability falls within the spectrum of autistic disorders ? 2 . Treating Autism . Point out to students that , although autistic symptoms in children may lessen with age , autism is a lifelong disorder . There are various types of therapies available for treating autism , including behavior modification , sensory integration , medications and dietary interventions . However , because the nature and severity of autistic symptoms and behaviors can vary , no one approach works for every person . According to the National Institute of Mental Health , most professionals agree that early intervention is important and that most individuals with ASD respond well to highly structured , specialized programs . After you have shared this information , pair students and assign each pair one of the following ASD treatment approaches : . Biomedical Treatments . ( CNN does not endorse any specific medication . The information provided here is meant as an overview of the types of medications sometimes prescribed . ) Instruct each pair to investigate the philosophy , protocols and benefits and drawbacks associated with its treatment method . Have pairs deliver presentations of their findings . ( If possible , have the students who are presenting behavior modification approaches demonstrate the techniques , and have the students who are speaking about medications and dietary interventions include graphics that depict how the treatments are thought to affect the different parts of the human body . ) Following the presentations , pose the following questions for class discussion : . Extension : Have students draw upon thier research to create an informational brochure about ASD for parents and local mental health providers . Keywords . Sue Rubin , autism spectrum disorders , pervasive developmental disorder , mental retardation , non-verbal , disability , relationships , self-abusive behaviors , motor skills , emotions , learning , language , communication system , sensory integration , echolalia , independent living , HUD , support services , Whittier College , intelligence , neurobiology , Dr. Margaret Bauman , advocate , documentary E-mail to a friend .
Learn about autism spectrum disorders ( ASD ) Examine different treatment approaches for ASD . Title: Why do we have to wait until the end of a movie before it starts?