The existed materials are the raw source to be compared to the developed materials. In this proces some trials are needed to see the level of appropriateness
and the significance of the materials to get students’ attention and involvement. This relates to the question why are materials important in teaching language?
In his study, Allwright 1990 argues that materials should teach students to learn, that they should be resource books for ideas and activities for
instructionlearning, and that they should give teachers rationales for what they do. From Allwrights point of view, textbooks are too inflexible to be used
directly as instructional material. ONeill 1990, in contrast, argues that materials may be suitable for students needs, even if they are not designed specifically for
them, that textbooks make it possible for students to review and prepare their lessons, which textbooks are efficient in terms of time and money, and that
textbooks can and should allow for adaptation and improvisation. Materials here control the learning and teaching process.
An derived understanding about teaching materials development is about upgrading the content of the materials to be suited to the objectives of the
learning process which will be controlled by the materals designed by the developer.
2.2.2 Definition of Autism
As this study concerns with autistic learners, it is important to know the meaning of autism actually. Therefore, to grab further understanding, we need to have a
look at several explanations about autism from several references. Autism is first introduced by Leo Kanner who, in his psychiatric practice, had encountered a
small number of children who displayed a cluster of behaviors that made them appear to belong to a unique group, he identified autism in 1943. Leo was an
American psychiatric who identified Autism back in the 1943.Based on his research, he found the dominant characteristic of those children that they are
unable to make a relation with other people in many situations using common way. American Psychiatric Association APA defined autism as a pervasive
developmental disorder,
which is
characterized by
impairments in
communication and social interaction, and restricted, repetitive and stereotypic patterns of behavior, interests, and activities. It is a complex neurological
disorder that affects the functioning of the brain. Abdul Hadis, 2006:43 Autism is a condition caused by the interference of developmental brain function in
which the symptoms usually exist on the early age of childhood in the first 2-3 years old and it will be continued on whole of their life. Children with autism
have difficulties to communicate. Yatim, 2007:10 Maurice in Hadis 2006:43 stated that autism child cannot respond,
answer, and play as a child in common. This syndrom is not curable, but it is treatable. The symptoms can be minimalized by the intervention of early
education. It can help autism to improve their social development and decrease the distraction habbits. With the education, children with autism have opportunity
to life normally. Autism is referred to as a spectrum disorder, which means that the symptoms can be present in a variety of combinations, and can range from
mild to severe. Mildly affected individuals may appear very close to normal. Severely afflicted individuals may have an extreme intellectual disability and
unable to function in almost any setting. Multiple abilities can be affected, while others are not Ruble,2011. Every autistic child has different way of thinking
and different skill in each field. Sometimes, some of them are very good in math but aren’t good in writing, good in music but aren’t not good in math, etc.
Shortly, the skill and ability of them are various. But above all, teachers must be aware that all individuals with autism have difficulties with social interaction and
communication, although the extent and type of difficulty may vary.
2.2.3 Characteristics of Autistic Children
