• Admin
  • Administrator
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2010-01-07
  • Posts: 51

Topic: Teaching Young Children With Autism

Teaching Young Children With Autism

Autism is a developmental disorder that can effect anyone.  Despite the disability involved when one has autism, teaching autistic children is still possible.

One of the most debilitating characteristics of autism is the learning disabilities that come with it. When it comes to teaching children with autism, hard is really an understatement. The whole effort to teach children who have this disorder is definitely going to involve not just a mountain but mountain ranges to conquer.

When determining the teaching strategies to use, a teacher can take note of the different symptoms of autism that can impede the natural learning process. Ample knowledge of such symptoms can make the strategy and teaching process effective. There is no assurance that it is going to be easy though.

Here are some of the factors that need attention and thorough consideration to success in the aim of teaching children with autism.

1. Teaching environment. Because of autism, children find it hard to concentrate especially in the presence of loud noises and colors. They get easily distracted by such elements. Therefore, it is a must that the classroom or wherever the teaching process takes place should be kept at its plainest form. It should also be quiet and peaceful enough in order to help keep the children feel the same.

2. Routine activities. Children with autism cannot handle surprises. The daily activities should follow a certain routine. The kids have a good idea of what is going to happen next. This is the only way for them to concentrate and learn.

3. Limited options. When making the children choose something, it is important to keep everything simple. They should not be subjected to a number of choices. It is very easy for them to get all confused over many selections. In the end, they learn nothing and might even feel bad about the whole process. Letting the child pick one over the other is the best way to do it.

4. Simple communication. Using simple words is the best way to get the points across and completely understood by these young autistic kids. More so, one should maintain a lower voice since loud ones tend to agitate these children.

Autism in itself is a hard thing to deal with. However, it should not be something that limits what a child can do. Although their learning abilities might be limited, children with autism still have the capacity to learn. After all, autism is not equal to being stupid. In fact, many autistic children are very proficient and talented in certain areas. All it takes is a greater amount of effort and patience from the teachers.

Retrieved from "http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative … 08788.html"
(ArticlesBase SC #1808788)

http://www.autismpda.org/

Admin's Website

Thumbs up Thumbs down

  • Registered: 2010-01-16
  • Posts: 49

Re: Teaching Young Children With Autism

I'm not a teacher....I'm just a parent who Home Educates, but if I was a teacher and I read the above article I would NEVER want an Autistic child in my class!!

I have never read such a negative article about ASD children in my life........I have read a LOT, believe me!

I appreciate that the pitfalls (if indeed that's what they are) need to be aired, but where is the positive side to teaching ASD children?

Thumbs up Thumbs down

  • Registered: 2010-04-28
  • Posts: 7

Re: Teaching Young Children With Autism

Teaching autistic children is not an easy task. Teacher needs a great deal of knowledge and training to understand the psychology of children with autism.

Thumbs up Thumbs down

  • Registered: 2010-01-16
  • Posts: 49

Re: Teaching Young Children With Autism

Hi Dinesh...welcome to the forum  smile

I agree, teaching an autistic child is not easy. I do it every day, but I live in a country where teachers are given NO training at college to deal with autism and doctors are given a 20 minute lecture at med school, yet the diagnosis level is higher than ever! It simply doesn't make sense to me at all.  Then, somebody writes the above article and puts the fear of God into teaching staff.

I removed my daughter from mainstream education as she was bullied at school. Not by her peers but by her TEACHER. sad

Thumbs up Thumbs down

  • Registered: 2010-04-28
  • Posts: 7

Re: Teaching Young Children With Autism

It is very bad matter to hear that such child is bullied by teacher. But we don't have to be quite on this regard. We have to sensitize such teacher. Don't step back, Step forward.

Thumbs up Thumbs down

  • Registered: 2010-05-17
  • Posts: 2

Re: Teaching Young Children With Autism

Each individual with the disorder of autism has many areas that are strong and other areas that are fragmented. Never compare your child to another child within your family or outside your family. Work with your child to develop his or her strong strengths to them succeed.

Obtain videos, digital video discs (DVDs) from the section for children, in your local stores or libraries,local markets or where they carry these items. You can choose from many selections of various learning techniques pertaining to children with autism. They are excellent learning tools.

Thumbs up Thumbs down

  • Registered: 2010-01-16
  • Posts: 49

Re: Teaching Young Children With Autism

I can highly recommend "The Transporters" DVD.
It is made specifically for ASD children and it deals with how to distinguish emotions and feeling. It is not disimilar to "Thomas" in it's general look.....which is, of course, deliberate.....there are machines with the large round faces, but these are "proper" human faces so that they can show the range of human facial emotions.

Oh.....and the added bonus is that the narrator is none other than Stephen Fry! I could listen to that man read a telephone directory.....lovely voice!

Thumbs up Thumbs down

  • Registered: 2010-04-28
  • Posts: 7

Re: Teaching Young Children With Autism

Love and affection is the most prominent feature to inspire autistic children. We don't have to take it as a heavy burden for the family and society. We have to give great deal of inspiration and force to enhance their ability. I also give focus on some possible remedy such as with the help of special DVDs,videos, playing equipments and so on many kinds of things are useful.

Thumbs up Thumbs down

  • Registered: 2010-06-02
  • Posts: 2

Re: Teaching Young Children With Autism

Hi! I am a communications teacher...I love teaching all children.  I have set up my classroom using structured teaching interventions...my students thrive given visual schedules, an environment free of distractions and materials that build their skills as they develop.  I also incorporate social stories, sensory break, technology and RDI methodologies in my language rich classroom.  My students go to other classes for inclusion experiences and a class pushes into my room for reverse inclusion!  Teachers need to be trained...I have been teaching over 20 years.  In NY teachers can get a certificate in working with students with autism...I also teach a grad class that is part of the certificate program for post grad students.  Training is key smile .

Thumbs up Thumbs down

  • Registered: 2010-01-16
  • Posts: 49

Re: Teaching Young Children With Autism

Welcome k2teacher!

Oh, your classroom sounds perfect! If only you were in England. Sigh....

How many students do you have at any one time? Are they all autistic? Do you have any other members of staff working with you? How do you deal with autistic "melt-downs"? How would you punish a child for a wrong-doing? How old are your students? What is the ratio of boy to girl?

Oooh, sorry for firing questions at you when you've only just got here! I've never had the opportunity to talk to a teacher who accepts that autism exisits....

Thumbs up Thumbs down

  • Moose
  • Administrator
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2010-02-03
  • Posts: 25

Re: Teaching Young Children With Autism

Hi K2teacher & welcome,

You have the greatest qualification of all  "I love teaching all children", without this, training is less effective. If you have passion it is usually accompanied by intuition that takes training knowledge on board but adapts it to suit the child.
Trained staff who rigidily apply specialist knowledge without discrimination are potentially as harmful as those without any training at all.

Maisy:-                   Fortunately there are schools like this in the UK, but perhaps an exception rather than the rule. I believe the drive for 'inclusion' is the problem, closing specialist provisions and aiming for a more generalised approach to special needs education. No doubt for many children a more 'normal' environment is appropriate, but for some inclusion is too difficult even in heavily supported environment and they become more isolated ( and excluded) than if in a specialist provision.
I guess much relates to costs. Specialist provisions are expensive, howvever the price paid for getting provision wrong is even higher.

neville

http://www.youtube.com/user/bluemillicent  an evolving video resource for PDA

Thumbs up Thumbs down

  • Registered: 2010-01-16
  • Posts: 49

Re: Teaching Young Children With Autism

Oh, how right you are, Neville!

I hate the word "inclusion" when in relation to Daisy. It's not enough to include the autistic child but not the autism. Such was the case for Daisy and I.

I am delighted that there are SOME children out there who are blossoming under the correct tutelage and understanding that an interested teacher can provide.  Keep up the good work! Maybe we could move to NY???  wink

Thumbs up Thumbs down

  • Registered: Yesterday
  • Posts: 1

Re: Teaching Young Children With Autism

Hi guys!

I have a child and he has mild autism? he is only 5 years old and I'm here to ask some help how to handle this challenge. I don't no what to do specially when his symptoms come out. he always cry and cry until he fall asleep. what should I do? I'm planning to take him in autism school but I don't no what is the best school for it hoping that he well be alright.
by the way I'm from Utah can you please help me.

Thumbs up Thumbs down