Re: autism

It really depends on the child’s level of functioning, any problematic behaviors, and sensory sensitivity. We include many children on the autistic spectrum in our classrooms with varying degrees of sucess. Some teachers appear to be particularly sensitive to the needs of autistic children- others are just not up for the job. Probably the most important points to make would be that the majority of children on the spectrum are visual learners- so that visual materials must accompany all lessons. They may need a highly predictable routine- a daily schedule to follow. Have an OT look at the classroom so that the child is not too stimulated and has an adequate degree of structure. Small group instructional learning formats are better than large class lessons. It is important to encourage cooperative learning activities- just be sure to provide the assistance the autistic child might need. They may have trouble during unstructured times- socially and/or behaviorally- and need additional supervision or guidance. They may have difficulty during transitions and need particular cues and accomodations- like having a buddy in line. They may have particular areas of intense interest and knowledge, which can be used to motivate them to learn and perform- they can also share this knowledge with the class. None of these accomodations should disrupt a class. Some children do have behavioral issues such as low frustration tolerance, emotional lability, attention deficit/ hyperactivity- often times they can be addressed by understanding the root of the behavior and addressing that (ie giving the overstimulated child breaks, reducing classroom noise, letting child be front of the line, avoiding competitive games, etc). There are great books on educating children on the spectrum- preparation and collaboration with other specialists are key.