In March 2015, Peter Vermeulen presented about happiness and wellbeing in autism to 200 ASD Nest program teachers, therapists, and administrators. 

In his discussion of Autism and Happiness, Vermeulen challenged educators to examine their goals for their students. He asked the participants: How often do you include references to happiness, pride, satisfaction, and physical and emotional wellbeing? He made the argument that our goals should not only focus on reducing negative feelings (stress, anxiety), but on increasing good-feelings

The presentation raised many important ideas for staff: 

• In addition to working on skill building, we need to focus on wellbeing, so that students are more equipped to cope with their challenges

• We need for understanding happiness from an autistic perspective, and not impose neurotypical definitions of happiness onto our students

• It's important to provide support for students while challenging them: "I don't need lower expectations; I need the same expectations with different support"

• A "twin track approach" best supports students: 1) adapt the environment, and 2) teach the individual
   
• Any strategy to support students with ASD begins with creating an autism friendly environment.
  Make it:
  • clear & understandable
  • predictable 
  • meaningful