Autism/Asperger Simulation Activity
By: Lori Ernsperger, PhD
The following simulation activity is intended to be implemented with school teams
to increase awareness and understanding of students with autism. The activity
takes 5-10 minutes and can be used with staff at any grade level, or with peers
from upper elementary and older. The steps for implementation include:
Prep Work:
1. Copy the following sheets on Pink, Blue, or White paper. If the paper says “Talk to the
person with the Blue sheet” that page should be on Pink paper and vice versa. The
sensory sheet is copied on to white paper.
2. Cut the papers in half.
3. Collate the pages into sets of Pink/Blue/White. The number of sets is determined by
the number of participants. Each participant will receive one half-sheet of paper.
Activity:
1. Tell the group that they are going to do a fun interactive activity. Don’t share too much
in the beginning. Let them come to their own conclusions.
2. Have participants get into groups of 3, this activity does not work with groups of 2 or 4
people.
3. Hand-out the sets of Pink/Blue/White papers to each group. Each participant should
take a half sheet of paper and quickly review the instructions on their sheet only. Let
participants know that they are not to read each other’s paper.
4. After a few seconds, tell the groups to begin. The participants with the Pink/Blue
sheets should quickly begin talking about food.
5. The participants with the White sheets may need some encouragement to interrupt
their colleagues to discuss the sensory system. Walk around and encourage all
participants to follow the directions exactly as they have on their papers.
6. After two minutes, stop the group. Most groups will have uncovered the hidden
meaning of this activity.
7. Discuss the hidden intent of this activity. Ask the following questions:
• What did it feel like to play your role in the group? Have the participants
explain in one word how it felt, i.e. awkward, lonely, annoying,
uncomfortable, sad.
• Ask the participants with the White sheets if they observed the non-verbal
cue their peers were using when they were speaking. Did they observe
the non-verbal cue?
• How was it different for the people with the Pink/Blue sheets vs. the
person with the White sheet?
• Relate their experience to students with autism and their peers. How does
this two-minute simulation impact the educational experience of students
with autism?
• Discuss the importance of teaching social skills to help to avoid these
situations.
• Discuss the impact on bullying and depression for older students.
By: Lori Ernsperger, PhD
The following simulation activity is intended to be implemented with school teams
to increase awareness and understanding of students with autism. The activity
takes 5-10 minutes and can be used with staff at any grade level, or with peers
from upper elementary and older. The steps for implementation include:
Prep Work:
1. Copy the following sheets on Pink, Blue, or White paper. If the paper says “Talk to the
person with the Blue sheet” that page should be on Pink paper and vice versa. The
sensory sheet is copied on to white paper.
2. Cut the papers in half.
3. Collate the pages into sets of Pink/Blue/White. The number of sets is determined by
the number of participants. Each participant will receive one half-sheet of paper.
Activity:
1. Tell the group that they are going to do a fun interactive activity. Don’t share too much
in the beginning. Let them come to their own conclusions.
2. Have participants get into groups of 3, this activity does not work with groups of 2 or 4
people.
3. Hand-out the sets of Pink/Blue/White papers to each group. Each participant should
take a half sheet of paper and quickly review the instructions on their sheet only. Let
participants know that they are not to read each other’s paper.
4. After a few seconds, tell the groups to begin. The participants with the Pink/Blue
sheets should quickly begin talking about food.
5. The participants with the White sheets may need some encouragement to interrupt
their colleagues to discuss the sensory system. Walk around and encourage all
participants to follow the directions exactly as they have on their papers.
6. After two minutes, stop the group. Most groups will have uncovered the hidden
meaning of this activity.
7. Discuss the hidden intent of this activity. Ask the following questions:
• What did it feel like to play your role in the group? Have the participants
explain in one word how it felt, i.e. awkward, lonely, annoying,
uncomfortable, sad.
• Ask the participants with the White sheets if they observed the non-verbal
cue their peers were using when they were speaking. Did they observe
the non-verbal cue?
• How was it different for the people with the Pink/Blue sheets vs. the
person with the White sheet?
• Relate their experience to students with autism and their peers. How does
this two-minute simulation impact the educational experience of students
with autism?
• Discuss the importance of teaching social skills to help to avoid these
situations.
• Discuss the impact on bullying and depression for older students.