Effective Teaching Strategies & Autism

Teaching autistic children requires implementation of specific strategies.

Autism is a complex, neurological disorder that affects a child's behavior and his ability to communicate and interact socially. Autistic children benefit greatly from structured settings, daily routines and constant repetition. To work successfully with an autistic child, it is imperative to learn and employ effective strategies that promote and encourage the development of social and life skills, as well as techniques that the student can use to calm himself and achieve success in the academic setting.

Avoid Overstimulation

Autistic students are easily distracted.

While many teachers strive to have bright, colorful and often busy classrooms, the teacher of the autistic child needs to avoid doing this. Excess stimuli in the classroom distracts the autistic child, making it challenging for him to concentrate on class work or pay attention to the lesson. Avoid creating an overstimulating environment by adopting a minimalist approach to setting up the classroom. Make sure the room is not cluttered and all walk ways are clear and free. All desks, tables and chairs should be neatly arranged. While walls and bulletin boards can be decorated, keep bright colors to a minimum and, remember, when it comes to an autistic student, less is more.

Structure Is a Necessity

Routine is key for the autistic child.

Rearranging the classroom over a holiday is not a good idea when teaching autistic students. People with autism are challenged when it comes to dealing with change and need consistent structure to promote academic success and improve social skills. Repetition and routine provide autistic students with the structure they need.

Give Few Choices

Questions can confuse the autistic student. Therefore, limiting questions to close-ended questions only is the best strategy to employ. Asking simple, close-ended questions eliminates confusion and encourages success on the student's decision-making ability.

Teacher Interactions

Quiet classes are ideal settings for a child with autism.

In addition to avoiding overstimulating the environment, teachers must also be mindful of their own interactions with the autistic students. Because we know autistic students need to learn in a quiet and calm environment, teachers must keep in mind that this includes their actions, tones and interactions as well. Eliminating stress is essential to creating an ideal environment. Be completely conscious of tones being used at all times and by everyone in the classroom. Autistic students are easily upset and can become unraveled instantly. To avoid this, speak in low tones, even when upset, and remove any students who are causing serious distractions or making loud noises. Also, limit physical contact with the autistic students as much as possible. They do not welcome high fives and hand shakes as regular children may. Taking the time to get to know the students personally will assist in determining what form of positive, physical contact, if any, is acceptable.

Teach Calming Techniques

Autistic students can become agitated upon too much sensory stimulation. When this happens, take the steps necessary to calm the student as quickly as possible. By giving visual cues or speaking in a low tone, suggest the student go to a pre-assigned, designated calming area until he is calm. In the meantime, quiet the class and remove or suspend any auditory sensory objects. While in the calming area, provide the student with various fabrics to touch or a weighted lap pillow with raised, rubber bumps. The deep pressure of the weighted pillow will assist in soothing the student and facilitating his return to the class lesson.

References

• Teaching Autism Students in Inclusive Classooms