How Can Teachers Include Autistic Students In The Classroom?
Guest Contributor
Guest post by Ava Wadaby.
Autism can pose different challenges to a child's daily life and can affect their engagement with learning at school. This article will shed light on some effective and practical ways for teachers to include and encourage autistic children in the classroom. However, before diving into ways in which you can support a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), let's have a look at the challenges these children often face which can impact their learning.
Challenges autism spectrum disorder students experience
Social skills
Many autistic children have difficulty socializing. Although inclusive classrooms are a great way to encourage socialization, they require children to work collectively, which might pose a difficulty for a student with autism. In addition, making eye contact, missing social cues, and deciphering facial expressions can affect the autistic child's success in social interaction.
Reading
It is not uncommon for children with autism to struggle with reading. Many find it hard to decode words and comprehend what they read. In addition, the abstract concepts within conversations are sometimes an issue with autistic children, making the figurative language within text confusing.
Special interests
Intense hobbies or fascination with certain subjects are often seen in children on the spectrum. These special interests can consume their mind, meaning they have challenges focusing on their school work.
So what environment is best to avoid these challenges? How can a teacher make the learning environment accommodative to a child with autism spectrum disorder?
The best learning environment for autistic children
Every child is unique and there is no one-size-fits all classroom or teaching environment for all autistic (and indeed, all neurotypical) children. However, the suggestions below tend to work particularly well.
Flexible environment
Although many autistic people operate with a level of rigidity of their own, flexibility at the right time and in the right way may provide a conducive structure for creativity without frustrations. Most students with autism tend to be perfectionists in their work, and learning how to make their creativity flow can be challenging for them. However, by inspiring them with flexible leadership as a teacher, they can learn by following your example.
Inclusive classrooms
For autistic students attending regular schools, an inclusive classroom provides an excellent learning place. Focusing on the different components that make students of all abilities feel supported, comfortable, successful, and inspired, is key.
Physical environment
Everything on a child's desk, as well as fluorescent lights, could distract a child with sensory issues (a common challenge for autistic individuals). However, the room's layout - if designed with sensory needs in-mind - can positively inspire and further their learning experience. Therefore, the teacher should try to ensure the class doesn't have items that may distract the autistic child, and should consider the appropriate use of lighting, fabrics, and textures in the space.
Emotional support
A child’s emotional wellbeing can have a big impact on their ability to pay attention. If an autistic child has behavioral issues or experiences many sensory meltdowns, they can disrupt the class. To maintain a peaceful atmosphere in the classroom, teachers need to offer a degree of emotional support.
The teacher should also exercise control when interacting with autistic children, showing grace with loving and firm instruction to each student. The best teachers help students with autism spectrum disorder believe in themselves while offering them multiple opportunities to demonstrate and practice their abilities.
Teaching tips to include children with autism in the classroom
Managing transitions and changes
The routine of autistic children is critical for their comfort. Therefore, changes and transitions may be considerably overwhelming to them. Although changes are necessary for school and often unavoidable, you could alleviate the anxiety they induce in children with autism spectrum disorder by preparing them for the transitions beforehand.
For instance, if you plan to change the classrooms in a week, take the autistic child to see the new classroom in advance. Give and show them pictures of the classroom to view until the moving day. Attaching predictability to an unexpected change or task like this helps make the change less daunting for the child while giving them time to adjust mentally.
Establishing a routine with autistic students
The world is an anxiety-inducing and confusing place for those with autism. That's why they are highly comfortable with a stable and predictable routine. Schools are structured, making them perfect for this. However, you should find a way of making their daily routine clear.
Create a visual timetable to help them understand the routine. Visual timetables involve placing simple words and images on the timetable in an orderly fashion to describe all the transitions and activities in the autistic child's day. This visual aid provides the child with a sense of security and serves as your reminder.
Integrating their interests
The way many autistic children form a highly-focused interest is among the things that make them unique. Whether it’s electronics, unicorns, certain historical periods, or roller coasters, you can use an autistic child's interests as a learning gateway. It only takes some commitment and creativity in your homework or lesson planning.
For instance, if you know a child with autism spectrum disorder is interested in unicorns, integrate unicorn pictures and words in spelling exercises. Doing so might make a massive difference to how the child engages in learning.
Consider their learning environment
As mentioned above, many children with autism experience sensory overload because they have intense adverse or positive sensory stimulation reactions. Making the classroom less overwhelming is a simple and useful step to help them. Since every autistic student is different, you'll have to learn their sensitivities. How do they react to touching certain fabrics or hearing certain sounds? Observe these reactions and see whether their parents can offer some input. Do everything possible to reduce or remove any stimuli causing anxiety in the environment.
For instance, if they are distressed by the school bell sound, you might allow them to wear sound-canceling headphones several minutes before the bell goes off. Ensure you schedule such a transition in their routine.
Communicate clearly
Autism can affect a child's ability to interpret and communicate meanings, although this varies between people. Therefore, you should consider your choice of words or your sentence structure. Do not confuse autistic students with rhetorical questions and metaphors.
Work with their guardians or parents
Guardians and parents are the true experts on their children. To support an autistic child fully in and out of the school, it’s important that teachers coordinate and share any knowledge with them. For example, the parent or guardian might share an intervention that has worked in the past which you can integrate into their daily routine.
Building this relationship will benefit the autistic child and help their parents and guardians feel at ease regarding their little-one’s education. It will also build their confidence in the ability of the school to support the child.
Summary
Supporting children with autism spectrum disorder in the classroom isn't a small undertaking. However, it can be an incredibly fulfilling and valuable one. Fortunately, when teaching students with autism, there are various strategies you can use to make them more comfortable and engaged in learning. Helping children with autism engage fully in learning opens up opportunities for a future where these children can achieve their full potential.
Did you enjoy this article? Learn more from Autism Parenting Magazine, the leading international publication for autism families.
