How do teachers educate students with autism?

Question

Autism Education

Answer 1

The first answerer had some good points, but the main idea behind teaching kids who present with any of the form of Autism Spectrum Disorder is to teach with visual schedules and to make everything visual and tactile.

These kids are totally bound by a schedule. In fact, being one of those teachers who likes to "fly by the seat of her pants" and see a great opportunity to teach as golden opportunities come up, I will often abandon a lesson plan if a neat idea comes up.

Kids with autism HATE it. They should have a schedule in place, and they should USE it every minute. It should be portable, easy to use, and everyone who works with that child should be able and willing to use it. The child should be comfortable in it's usage, and independent enough after instruction to be able to take care of it personally without a lot of prompts.

Another interesting method that really works with students who have more involved levels of Autism is "Structured Teaching" -- although there are many critics of this method of teaching. In this method, there is an instructor one on one with the child, and a tactile schedule is used for each component of the child's work. There is little noise, no conversation outside of the work, and the child's time is completely immersed in his work and his schedule. One task after another is given : bam bam bam, and rewards are scheduled in between at specific times.

Proponents of this type of instruction (like me!) know it works because it makes the child focus on his work, teaches him the schedule, and teaches him how to do the work that's expected of him. Eventually he will become completely independent and will not need the one on one instruction.

Critics say that it takes too much of the teachers' time, and that it segregated the child away from social interaction with classmates. But since the child has social interaction disorders anyway, that should not be a huge deal, and he will have opportunities to interact during other times of the day.

These are just a couple of ways that help a teacher in teaching children with Autism. There is so much to know about them, and there is a lot we still don't know!

Answer 2

There have been several good points mentioned. The recommendations I mention can be applied to children on the lower AND higher end of the Autism Spectrum.
To teach children with Autism: (These are strong recommendations, but not MUST do.....every child with Autism is different.)
1. You should to break down a task into smaller steps, smaller steps they can learn individually and master before learning a the task as a whole. Depending on the child, depends on the number a smaller steps a task needs to be broken down.
2. You should use CLEAR, SIMPLE and CONCRETE directions. Don't rattle off a 10 word instruction....the child will not actually hear it/understand it......Say only what needs to be heard.
3. You should use visuals. Not just for a schedule....this is extremely helpful for the children and at the same time teaches CHANGE, an issue with SOME children with Autism. BUT use Visuals with labeling (locations in the room, individual items/workstations), AND use visuals to help explain instructions, also use them with social stories.
4. BE CONSISTENT. Especially with how you manage the children/behaviors and the classroom.
5. Use positive constructive criticism.
6. Be attuned to sensory issues (lights, sounds, textures, smells..)
I could list more, if you are interested in more information just ask. You can do a search on the web and find LOTS of information. Just remember every child with autism is different, so it may or may not work with all the children in the class.
7. USE POSITIVE HIGHLY MOTIVATING REINFORCERS, specific to each individual to promote successfull learning.

If you are planning to teach children with Autism, please check out this article. (just search it on the web) "10 Things Your Student with Autism Wishes You Knew"

Answer 3

With great sensitivity to the individual child's particular characteristics...Depending on the severity or non-severity, a student with autism benefits from the opportunity to learn what is and what is not appropriate for someone of his/her age group. When teaching academics to an autistic student, the teacher should be looking at what best motivates, holds the attention and provides an approach for the particular student to maximize learning. I can be tricky but so rewarding.

Answer 4

All the above make good points...my son is autistic, higher functioning in areas such as communication but with social/behavioral issues. The biggest thing, after finding the way in which the child is best able to communicate..and this can be anything from pictures for everything to sign language to verbal communication to, most likely, a combination of any and all of the above..is consistency. These are kids who need to know that certain behaviors will result in certain outcomes. Structure ..both internal and external...is part and parcel of the disorder and while parents and teacher of children with autism work very hard to make them more flexable, certain things should be kept as close to "the norm" as possible. Yes, our bus driver may change or we may have to change plans for a trip to the mall becuase Mom got sick, BUT we know that bathtime is always after we watch our favorite cartoon (or almost always). Yes, we may have to move our seat in class or share our colored pencils BUT we know that at the end of the day we always put our chair at our desk and our pencils in our cubby. By giving them the structure, it allows them to adapt..odd and paradoxal but true. And consistency is a must..in the class, at home, between class and home. The methods used in school should be used at home as much as possible. Successful methods at home should be shared at school. Whatever the behavioral plan is should be implemented in both places, with the same rules and results as much as possible. This is where it can get tough because even the best parent with a "normal" kid will find that some days they just give in on an issue they know they should have said no to otherwise. And parents and teachers of autistic kids are as human as the rest of the world, but giving in too often can make things even tougher in the long run. So being consistent, keeping the day structured and doing the same at home and at school will all make things go much smoother.

Answer 5

Autism is a disorder of language, sensory perceptions and social behavior. Every individual with Autism needs to be assessed for their particular strengths and weaknesses (particularly in these areas) and an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) is developed as to how to and what to teach this individual.
The basis of teaching students with Autism consists of teaching the social rules while substituting unusual or inappropriate behavior for more favorable behavior, teaching the person to either speak more appropriately or to enhance their communication skills through electronic devices (e.g. "augmentative communication devices"), sign language, picture pointing for wants/needs...dependent upon how they communicate now & what they are 'stimulable' for, and, after learning their particular pet peeves or sensitivities, teach them ways to cope with these responses to the world better.
This will be true of all persons with autism, birth to death, but in varying degrees. Everyone is unique and also has their own rate at which they process learning.

Answer 6

Visual schedules, pictures for everything, the must have a way to communicate. Also behavior modification is used because children with autism are good manipulators and will have tantrums thinking they will get out of doing anything they don't wish to do. They are taught that they can have the tantrum but still will do the work.The goal is to get them into our world. Also, lifeskills are taught as are social skills.

Answer 7

I have autism, but I was educated just like the rest of the class, and I got higher grades than most of them. But I have High-Functional....so yeah......

Answer 8

Here is a website that provides information on autism and tells you how to deal with the problem. http://www.arcwa.com/

Answer 9

you're coping with a team of persons that have not any information or interior into somebody with a discovering incapacity. All their lives they have been straight away A scholars and lived interior the academic device. discovering has come undemanding for them and could't comprehend somebody who has to conflict with. the assumption is foreign places to them. maximum instructors have won straight away A's all their lives and now for the 1st time our failing to instruct somebody. they are aggravated with the youngster for no longer discovering and themselves for no longer being waiting to instruct. on the top of the day they take it out on the student. is this stunning no, yet that's how existence is. There are some great instructors accessible that take excitement in coaching and are excited related to the small milestones that a new child with particular needs or discovering disabilities could achieve this day. yet sorry to assert yet our instructors and that i've got listed above, as i replaced into informed by skill of one in each and every of them, "if i had to bypass into particular preparation i could have taking it" this team basically enjoys coaching A student's.

Answer 10

well they would usally be in a recouce class and the only then they are told what the subjects are about and then help them on their homework and also they have a spceial teacher they see.