What they need

Many of our girls will not ask for help and are often trying really hard not to draw attention to themselves. Girls do this by masking, which means they can often appear to be coping. As a result we don’t always appreciate quite how much work and effort it takes to be able to cope in school. Read more about masking

We therefore need to be proactive, and ensure we are aware of what their needs are.

Visuals

Visual supports are communication tools that can be used with autistic people. They can be used in most situations, are adaptable and portable. Visual supports (autism.org.uk)

Visual supports can help to provide structure and routine encourage independence, build confidence, improve understanding, avoid frustration and anxiety, and provide opportunities to interact with others.

They can make communication physical and consistent, rather than fleeting and inconsistent like spoken words can be.

Executive Functioning

Many of our girls have executive functioning differences which are often linked to autism and ADHD.

Some of the things Executive Functioning is responsible for are:-

Starting tasks
Regulating emotions
Flexible thinking
Working memory
Planning and prioritising.

For our learners with executive functioning difficulties, they have to think very hard about everything such as any task or any aspect of their day. This can be absolutely exhausting!