Autism-World

Q: Does anyone have information on teaching kids with autism? I am starting to work with a 4 yr old boy with autism.

Answer:

What autistics need more than anything else, in order to learn successfully, is a highly organized environment in which (at first) EVERYTHING is predictable.

Maintain the same routine every day. The only changes should be in the content of the skill instruction… and even there only when the child shows mastery of the prior skill(s). The content change should only be a small, logical next step. No sudden, large changes of any kind!

How you will handle this child depends on his/her level of intelligence.

If the child also has MR or is otherwise very severe, TEACCH is still a good behavioral and environmental structuring program:
http://www.autism-resources.com/papers/t…

At any level of intelligence or severity, ABA (another behavioral/environmental structuring program) is the current #1 program in the United States, with high levels of documented success as well as parent satisfaction:
http://www.behavior.org/autism/…

The above links are, of course, just a start to give you an idea of what each program is about.

Academic content should be determined like you would for any other child, based on his/her current demonstrated levels of both ability and potential.

An autistic should also be working with an Occupational Therapist for both fine motor AND Sensory Integration. If this is not happening, do follow up and get the child referred for an OT eval. You should also consider the child’s sensory defensiveness and/or need for extra stimulation as you set up his/her program.

http://www.autism.org/si.html

http://www.sensoryresources.com/…

It will take a few days of overnight sweat to get a usable program set up from scratch… but it will be worth it months and years down the road!

Technorati : autism

This entry was posted on Monday, September 17th, 2007 at 9:34 pm and is filed under Ask and answer, Autism Education Issues.