Children on the autistic spectrum can find school difficult for a number of reasons, generally related to difficulties with communication, social skills and sensory sensitivity.
However, there is plenty that teachers, support staff and other pupils can do to help.
Autism is a lifelong developmental condition that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, others. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them. Young people with autism may have difficulty in three areas:
- Communication skills
- Social skills
- Flexibility thinking, leading to difficulties in area where using your imagination is being used.
Autism is an umbrella term but the young people you support may have specific diagnoses such as autism, Asperger’s syndrome or high functioning autism.
How does autism affect pupils in the classroom?
Some of the main difficulties that children with autism can face in the classroom include:
- Communicating with teachers, support staff or other pupils
- Following instructions
- Following instructions
- Following class rules
- Knowing how to behave
- Concentrating on a task
Communicating difficulties Because of difficulties with communication processing language, children with autism might have problems understanding and following instructions. The child may understand simple commands but have difficulties with long or complicated instructions. Most children with autism also have difficulty in shifting their attention from one activity to another. They need time to process an instruction. When repeating an instruction it is important not to change the words: doing so means the child has to process more information and may become frustrated.
Classroom rules and social skills Concentrating on tasks
Some children also find it difficult to concentrate on more than one piece of information at a time. So a situation where they have to listen to what someone is saying, as well, as reading non-verbal information such as body language, could be very difficult for them.
How can I help a pupil with autism in my class?
Often it is a case of making some very simple adjustments to make your classroom more autism friendly. Here are some suggestions:
Children with autism may find it difficult to attend to a task, they may find the classroom environment distracting and be unable to concentrate. Equally, children may find it difficult to switch between tasks.
Due to their difficulties with social skills, children with autism may find it hard to follow classroom rules or understand how they should behave. They could also be unaware of the feelings of others people, and the effect of their own behaviour on others. Some children might want to follow the rules rigidly- this is a way of coping with the unpredictability of the world. Changes in routine might be distressing. Some children get very anxious and you may see this in their behaviour.
Following instructions
Children with autism often take language literally and do not understand implied meanings. With a phrase such as ‘Would you come and sit here?’ a child with autism may think that there is a choice and say ‘No’.
Children with autism may have difficulty explaining their needs or answering verbal questions. Or they may only understand a question if it is posed in a certain way. Children with autism also find it difficult to re-tell an incident or event. Very often children might not be able to relate to stories or topics that ask them to imagine situations people or places outside of their own experiences; yet they will be able to talk about their favourite topic, such as trains or computer games, at length. While talking about their favourite topic, children with autism may talk at people rather than to them. They may seem indifferent to other people’s level of interest.
Make sure you get the child’s attention before you give instructions.Use simple language not complicated words. People with autism often find visual information extremely helpful.
Give the child time to process information after you have given instructions.
Avoid non-literal language such as metaphors, sarcasm and idioms. Make sure that you say what you mean.
People with autism learn better when they see things. Try show the finished article of a piece of work they have to do e.g. a completed model in technical, a poster, a drawing in art.
Children with autism will benefit from a quiet, distraction-free learning area. Because of their sensory issues, too much noise, movement, bright colours and pictures, etc. may be difficult for some children to cope with.
Have consistent rules and routines and have clear consequences for rule-breaking.
Other Useful websites:
National Autistic Society – Scotland
Image from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Autumn!.jpg
