Three-year-old Mary comes to school every day and immediately goes to her favorite toys, the baby dolls. While other children pick the babies up and pretend to feed them, Mary carefully places each baby in a row along the wall. After they are neatly placed she moves them around a little and puts them into another row. If the other children try to move or take a doll, Mary has a tantrum. But if she is allowed to organize the dolls on her own, she is able to move to morning circle easily.

Luckily Mary’s teachers understand that this behavior is a symptom of autism and they have planned her morning transition around her needs. Through partnerships with the special education providers who work with Mary and her family, her teachers have created a positive, nurturing learning environment.