Though every child has a unique learning ability and needs, children with ASD or Autism Spectrum Disorder need extra support and guidance to thrive. Both teachers and parents must understand the specific needs of your child with autism. Understanding the requirements is the primary basis for helping your children learn better and quicker.
Tips to help your child with ASD learn:
Establish a structured learning environment
A child who has autism will feel comfortable only in an environment where they have routine involving minimal deviations from their schedule and clear structures, says Janice, an educator who offers online finance assignment help. Thus, the educator needs to ensure that the lesson plans and the learning environment are structured so that it is easier for both the teachers and the students to know what needs to be done, how much is to be done, and for how long.
Further, both the child and the teacher should know about the subsequent flow of events after completing the task at hand.
Make communication seamless
Educators use several different types of communication techniques to educate children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. A few learning centres employ a sign language for autistic children who lack adequate speech skills. Another useful technique that can help is facilitated communication. It ensures quick learning.
As
part of this technique, you will hold the child’s arm or hand and
persuade them to push the apt key on any portable communication device.
Employ visual aids
For young children, especially children with ASD, visuals are a vital medium of learning, says Chloe, an educator with TAE. The tutors can incorporate photographs, drawings, language build cards, picture cards, stickers, if or then cards, among other things, into day-to-day activities.
You can also use some videos and online tutorials for delivery information visually. Visual learning makes it easier for the child to absorb the information.
Know about the sensory issues
Generally speaking, children with ASD are either under-sensitive or over-sensitive to the sensory stimuli, which generally we do not even notice. They can be bothered with smells of perfumes, buzzing of electrical appliances, unusual lights, and echoes from the environment. It can lead to an extreme reaction from them.
Thus, you need to be aware of their potential triggers and keep them at bay. You can offer them some sensory tools that can help them lower their stress levels and quickly process the information communicated to them.
Encourage social engagements
As a parent or a teacher, you need to help your child with ASD develop the necessary skills and knowledge that are mandatory for social interaction, says Amy, who offers the best product management courses
online and has a 5-year old with ASD. We agree with Amy’s point, but it
is also crucial to know that a child who has autism usually might not
seem interested in interacting with teachers, parents, and peers.
However, it is still quintessential to impart social skills to them. Teachers can use the classrooms as the perfect setting for this. Every childhood educator of a child with ASD should create an environment that encourages children to work on their communication skills.
Activities have to be structured too
Maintaining a structure within different activities is also an effective way to facilitate learning in children with ASD. You can use visuals to provide the requisite information related to the activity or the task. For instance, use a timer to tell the child how long a particular task will last. In the activities, do not forget to include peer interactions, which can help them put their social skills to use.
Direct language only
If you are dealing with a young ASD student, he may not pick up a figurative language or abstract concepts, and they might even take most of your said thing literally. Unfortunately, even the non- verbal cues, like facial expressions or hand gestures, might not be easy to comprehend for them.
For educators who are used to teaching children without autism, it might take a while for you to get the right wording for what you wish to say, says Stanley, who offers online do my economics homework service and works with an NGO to educate ASD students. However, at all times, you need to be as direct in your speed as possible.
Spare some extra time
Even after using direct language, there will be times when a child does not react or respond immediately. Thus, it would help if you gave the child some more time to absorb what you are communicating and then process it in their head.
So, if you are teaching a child with autism, patience is the key. Please bear in mind; at any time, if you rephrase the instructions, questions, or statements or rush through your speech, you are only slowing them down further because as they begin re-processing.
Bottom line
If you need guidance, you should consult a therapist or a doctor and even research new techniques to teach a child with autism. It is best to try new methods. It will help you judge what bets work with the child.
Lastly, do not lose patience. It only needs some effort and practice, and you will find a way that works with them the best.