WATCH LIVE

Bridge over section of I-95 is being demolished due to damage from truck fire.

Teachers at PS 14 participate in special autism training ahead of new school year

It's back to school for all New York City students today, and one school in the Bronx is helping teachers make sure their classrooms are inclusive for all students.

News 12 Staff

Sep 5, 2019, 11:18 AM

Updated 1,702 days ago

Share:

It's back to school for all New York City students today, and one school in the Bronx is helping teachers make sure their classrooms are inclusive for all students.

An autism training was held Wednesday at P.S. 14 in Pelham Bay.

“We really just want to ensure that our teachers are provided with the tools and the training to give each student that comes into this building the best education possible,” says Community School Director Carly Ayala.

The school has done other teacher training on subjects like bullying and emotional health, but this is the first autism session they've held.

The three-hour program is taught by a 40-year veteran of special education.

“I love being able to bring back some of my experiences and share it with them and I learn from them as much as they learn from me,” says program teacher Deborah Adams.

The close to three dozen participants, almost all the school's teachers, say the last time they were trained on the subject was when they got credentialed, some more than a decade ago.

“Having the class before you're in a classroom is one thing, but having training like this after we've already seen students with autism in the classroom is a huge difference,” says teacher Noelle Gold.

The program focuses ways to deal with the challenges that accompany autism from sensitivities to light, lack of social cues and atypical interests.

“It's great to know that I’m able to use these strategies in the classroom to help them,” says teacher Jaclyn Sokol.

Teachers also received a certificate after completing the course, telling News 12 they're ready for the school's close to 600 kindergarten through fifth grade students to be back at their desks.

“It’s exciting, every year it's different, and you look forward to it and we're always learning, just like the kids,” says teacher Christine Duffy.


More from News 12
2:00
NYPD: 1 person dead, another injured in overnight double shooting in Brownsville

NYPD: 1 person dead, another injured in overnight double shooting in Brownsville

1:28
STORM WATCH: Cool and cloudy conditions for NYC; tracking rain during the weekend

STORM WATCH: Cool and cloudy conditions for NYC; tracking rain during the weekend

1:52
Brooklyn-based program helps teens stay away from trouble by teaching life skills

Brooklyn-based program helps teens stay away from trouble by teaching life skills

0:33
Experts fear 'catastrophic' college declines thanks to botched FAFSA rollout

Experts fear 'catastrophic' college declines thanks to botched FAFSA rollout

2:11
Garden Guide: Is it safe to plant your summer garden?

Garden Guide: Is it safe to plant your summer garden?

1:44
The Real Deal: Now may be the time for a job change

The Real Deal: Now may be the time for a job change

10 organizations to donate to in support of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities

10 organizations to donate to in support of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities

1:55
Large fire at 2-story Bensonhurst building leaves home destroyed

Large fire at 2-story Bensonhurst building leaves home destroyed

1:59
Community members affected by Bushwick fire regroup, attempt to move forward

Community members affected by Bushwick fire regroup, attempt to move forward

1:41
New survey highlights challenges for migrants

New survey highlights challenges for migrants

1:55
PS 331 in Borough Park to be renamed in honor of slain Detective WenJian Liu

PS 331 in Borough Park to be renamed in honor of slain Detective WenJian Liu

0:43
2 City Council committees hold joint hearing on sexual harassment policies

2 City Council committees hold joint hearing on sexual harassment policies

4:14
'We lost something good'. FDNY says large fire destroys Bushwick supermarket, leaves 55 people homeless

'We lost something good'. FDNY says large fire destroys Bushwick supermarket, leaves 55 people homeless

0:39
Diocese of Brooklyn: 3 Catholic academies to close at the end of the school year

Diocese of Brooklyn: 3 Catholic academies to close at the end of the school year

2:03
New exhibit at Brooklyn Museum unveils new photos taken by Beatles' Paul McCartney

New exhibit at Brooklyn Museum unveils new photos taken by Beatles' Paul McCartney

0:32
NYPD: Suspect driver wanted for assaulting 59-year-old man in Williamsburg

NYPD: Suspect driver wanted for assaulting 59-year-old man in Williamsburg

0:23
Police: 2-car Prospect-Lefferts Gardens crash leaves person hospitalized

Police: 2-car Prospect-Lefferts Gardens crash leaves person hospitalized

0:36
Live Nation Concert Week offers $25 tickets to over 5,000 shows

Live Nation Concert Week offers $25 tickets to over 5,000 shows

2:22
Do you constantly reuse the same username and password? 6 steps to help safeguard your online accounts

Do you constantly reuse the same username and password? 6 steps to help safeguard your online accounts

1:27
Kingsboro Psychiatric Center workers demand their bosses get fired due to bullying, nepotism

Kingsboro Psychiatric Center workers demand their bosses get fired due to bullying, nepotism