Be a Friend

Jennifer M. Schmidt, M.Ed., is an Intervention Specialist (Special Educator) at Beavercreek High School in Beavercreek, Ohio. Jennifer has 25 years of teaching experience in both general and special education settings. She began working closely with students with autism while teaching in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and was trained in the TEACCH method. At BHS, Jennifer and her now retired Speech & Language Pathologist colleague piloted their Communication Class in the fall of 2007, and the class continues to this day and utilizes the PEERspective Learning Approach; since then, neighboring school districts have adopted the same model with similar success. Jennifer is a passionate educator who enjoys presenting at local, state, and international conferences about Communication Class, autism, and training general education teachers to work with students with autism (mild-moderate). She was recognized as Beavercreek City Schools Teacher of the Year in 2012, and in 2014 was awarded the Beavercreek Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year recognition as a result of her innovative Communication Class. She stays active teaching at workshops, through her role as a lead teacher on the Autism Coalition Team, at Beavercreek High School, and at local colleges. Jennifer is passionate about helping other schools find success in teaching pragmatic language to students on the spectrum through Communication Class.

Be a Friend will help young children understand and be kind to autistic classmates. — Temple Grandin, Author - The Way I See ItAs coaches for special education teams in West Central Ohio, we’re always seeking good resources to increase the understanding and appreciation of autism. The PEERspective books for middle and high school have been wonderful tools for building student skills and facilitating inclusion. We are excited to now have a PEERspective resource for our elementary schools. Common characteristics of autism are presented in rhyme and accompanied by visually appealing illustrations. We love the extension activities and resources to further develop student skills and understanding. Teaching young children acceptance, kindness, and empathy is important and we are happy to add this book to our library. — Carol Dittoe, Speech-Language Pathologist, Certified Autism Specialist— Autism and Low Incidence Coaching TeamBe a Friend: Perspective on Autism is another brainchild of Jennifer Schmidt and Sara Woolf Anderson. This lovely book describes autism in an easy-to-understand, non-limiting way. While gently describing the strengths and needs of autistics, the authors encourage readers to understand that all people are different and yet share many commonalities. The book strongly states that autistic children and, indeed, every individual is worthy of our attention. — Brenda Smith Myles, PhD - author, national speaker and world-class researcherAs a Professor of Teacher Education, I think this book is a wonderful resource for future teachers. The engaging rhymes, informative text, beautiful illustrations and extension activities make for a valuable and heartwarming book that should be in every classroom! — Jennifer T. Christman, Ed.D.Reading Jennifer Schmidt and Sara Woolf Anderson's Be a Friend: PEERspective on Autism is akin to sitting by a cozy fire on a cold winter morning: It warms the heart and soul with its kindness, compassion and storytelling - with a valuable layer of practicality in the mix. — Sean BarronIn Be a Friend: PEERspective on Autism, the creators present a relatable and realistic story of autism. Reader-friendly prose engages readers in the story by asking reflective questions throughout the text. The rhyming text will make for a fun classroom read aloud experience, and the bright and colorful images represent a diverse cast of characters, inviting everyone to find themselves in the story. Throughout the text, nonfiction content presents critical information about what it means to be a friend to someone who is autistic, making this book a practical and useful text for homes, libraries, and classrooms. — Mary-Kate Sableski, PhD, Leary Chair for Innovation in Education, Health, and Wellness, University of Dayton