How to Teach Adults With Autism
Teaching adults with autism can be both challenging and rewarding because the methods have to be adapted for each student. There is no perfect or generalized lesson you can use for autistic students. The learning difficulties of the autistic adult can vary widely between an attention disorder to severe autism, where the individual lacks fine motor skills. Here are some tips to use when you teach adults with autism.
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Instructions
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Create lessons with strict structure and repetition. The adult autistic student should be involved in the "now" with a regimen (see Additional Resources below). This could be doing activities at a precise time and using different methods (e.g., objects, flashcards or short films).
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Make sure the lessons are visually oriented. The materials will need to be prepared beforehand or gathered. Flashcards with photos or images and the word written below them are useful for teaching autistic adults, with a heavy focus on nouns.
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Prepare simple instructions. Write them out first and create visual clues that enhance the verbal instructions.
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Design a program especially for your student. Some autistic adults are sensitive to light or bright colors, while others respond to singing. Use a trial-and-error system to find what works best, and inform the family to use the same techniques.
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Update your teaching methods by finding support and computer activities online (see Resources) such a typing tutorials. Many autistic students type much more coherently than they write.
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Tips & Warnings
Have plenty of art supplies on hand to supplement the lessons, since most people with autism enjoy drawing images. It can also be used as a relaxation technique in the classroom.
