Autism Awareness Month
By Kathryn Beaney
From time to time students will tell me that they have a child in their class with
autistic tendencies. Without seeking the advice of a professional we should not be
labelling the child but should be working with him or her as an individual as we
would any other child. A little research on working with children who have autism
can help us to put strategies in place and many of these strategies will also be
beneficial for the other children in our class.
People with autism like structure, therefore it is important that you have a
structured daily routine so that the child knows what is coming next. A visual
timetable on the wall can support the child through the transitions of the day. A
child with autism tends to think visually so, as well as the visual time table, use other
visual cues throughout the day to give instructions. Move away from too much
talking as verbal information can take time to process and sequence.
An autistic child may well be sensitive to sound and light, therefore a quiet
environment with natural light can help the child to focus. Set up an area where the
child can go to find some peace and make sure that your classroom management
takes these needs into account. Keep the environment calm and speak to the
children using a calm voice, lots of visual cues and demonstrations and giving
instructions step by step.
To help the child sit still, you can give them an object to fiddle with - place a heavy
pillow on their lap or provide them with a sensory cushion to sit on.
Remember to spend time with the child supporting the development of their social
skills, these skills may not come naturally and therefore will need to be taught.
It is important to stay positive with the child and work closely with your colleagues
and the child’s parents.