Autism - Educators

Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder have incredibly varied abilities and needs. The most important thing to do is take each child's needs separately. Here are some things to consider generally, but be sure to individualize everything.

Here are some tips for having a better experience with a student with ASD in your educational arena.

• Get to know them. When you know a child's interests, you can make more meaningful progress.

• Instruct in ASD-specific areas. This will likely be part of their direct instruction or IEP, but supporting these areas like communication or emotion regulation is invaluable to these students.

• Use evidence-based practices. (Is there ever a time when you shouldn't?)

• Provide individualized supports and services. For a general educator, this can mean helping manage their schedule. One example might be giving them a five minute warning between switching tasks.

• Create structured environments. As a generalization, students with ASD like predictability. Helping maintain a consistent schedule with consistent routines is helpful.

• Use a functional approach for challenging behaviors. Figure out the function of the behavior (such as attention or avoidance) and address that aspect.

• Create social opportunities. Make sure your students with ASD have a role in a group, or assign them a partner.

Evidence-Based Practices List

Reference

The IRIS Center. (2014). Autism spectrum disorder: An overview for educators. Retrieved from https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/asd1/

The IRIS Center. (2016). Autism spectrum disorder (part 2): Evidence-based practices. Retrieved from https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/asd2/