Make your classroom autism-friendly

You may definitely know what gets the students attentive and yearning for more learning in a classroom. However, dealing with autistic children is a different ballgame. Use the following pointers to create a classroom environment conducive to them:

1. Put a system in place

Children with autism perform and grow well in a structured environment.  Establish a routine and keep it as consistent as possible.  In a world that’s ever changing, routine and structure provide great comfort to a child in the autism spectrum.  Define the routine clearly as soon as the child enters the classroom, like:

–          Greet the teacher

–          Greet your friend sitting next to you

–          Unpack your school bag

–          Put your school bag in the yellow tray

–          Put your notes in the red tray

–          Put your lunch box in the blue tray

–          Sit at your desk

Activities are successful when they are broken into small steps.  If the children are creating a craft such as a paper cup painting or spray-painting, define the steps clearly. Tell them when it’s time to dip the brush in the paint, when to spray, when to fold the paper and when to cut.

Autistic children get very restless in their free time, so give as little downtime between activities as possible.

2. Use Pictures

Children with autism learn faster when visuals are used.  When verbal instructions demand too much focus, they’ll tune you out. The question might arise ‘For what kind of lessons can you use visuals?’ It could be anything.

If you are explaining an essay about an Indian festival, show pictures of that festival. Also, show related visuals. If you are explaining about an outing, show them related illustrations like boating scenes and greenery, photos of swans and yes, good food.

Are you teaching greeting skills?  If yes, to make the learning more interesting, show pictures of children greeting their friends, bus driver, parents and teachers. Give the relevant verbal instructions to support the same, later.

3. Schedules

Children with autism need order and detail.  They feel controlled and secure when they know what to expect. They get overwhelmed with change in schedule. Picture schedules are always powerful because they help a student visualize the actions.  For example:

Classroom on Wednesday:

Show all the visuals in a sequence: pictures of a child sitting down on the chair, unpacking her/his school bag, taking notes, during recess, eating lunch, playing during sports time, singing in the music class, reading a book and packing the school bag to leave.

4. Reduce distractions

Try and seat these children away from windows and doors.  Use storage bins and closets for packing story books. Too many colours and visual stimuli around, when not needed, can divert these kids much easily when a class is in progress.

5. It is not personal

Children with autism are not rude.  They simply don’t get conditioned to what is socially acceptable and what is not. It can feel insulting when you excitedly give a gift or eagerly try and share information but get no response.   Don’t take it personally. These incidents can become cues to create learning tools for the teacher. For instance, create a “Greeting Lesson” and draw a figure saying ‘Good Morning’ on a chart.

6. Teach them to use their hands well for everyday activities

Teaching students with autism to be independent is vital to their well-being.  You may be tempted to help a child who is struggling to bolt a door. But wait! Let him do it on his own. Stay patient, give him the necessary instructions and watch him do it.