Understanding Autism: Communication, Interaction, Behavior, Learning

1. By: Nurul Nadia Abu Bakar A137246 Get To Know About Autism

3. COMMUNICATION • Impaired communication skills > Verbal – odd pitch/intonation, abnormal rate, lack of expressive language skills, unusual rhythm > Non Verbal – lack of eye contact, inappropriate facial expression, unusual use of gestures, strange body gestures

4. SOCIAL INTERACTION • Difficulty relating to people, objects and events • Avoid physical contact • Impairment of social interaction and abnormal social play

5. UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR • Repetitive movements • Insistence on sameness • Sensitive towards loud noises, some smells and light • Unconventional use of toys and objects

6. LEARNING • Cognitive problems in; > attention > organization > sequencing

7. AUTISM

9. Accommodating With Their Learning Needs • No single method successful for all • Students’ needs change over time • Teachers should try other/variety of approaches

10. Teaching Students With Autism • Instructional approaches • Strategies for classroom management • Strategies for communication development • Strategies for teaching social skills • Teaching functional skills

11. INSTRUCTIOANAL APPROACHES • Visual approaches – pictures / written schedules • Provide precise, positive praise while the student is learning • Plan tasks at an appropriate level of difficulty • Use age-appropriate materials • Provide opportunities for choice

12. Cont. • Provide brief and clear oral instructions • Give extra time for them to respond • Use concrete examples and hand-on activities • Know more about the children from their family

13. SRATGEGIES FOR CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT • Provide a structured, predictable classroom environment • Provide a customized visual daily schedule • Provide relaxation opportunities and areas – repetitive movements

14. Plan for transition and prepare the student for change • Provide opportunities for meaningful contact with peers who have appropriate social behavior

15. STRATEGIES FOR COMMUNICATION DEVELOPMENT • Structured lesson on learning to listen • Developing oral language comprehension – using visual aids, gestures • Developing oral expression - • Developing conversation skills – encourage informal conversation

16. STRATEGIES FOR TEACHING SOCIAL SKILLS • use social stories • teach components of key social skills • provide planned practice and reinforcement for skills • provide practice of skills using picture cue-cognitive picture rehearsal • use peer support • use social skills training groups • support the development of friendships

17. TEACHING FUNCTIONAL SKILLS • Self care – hygiene, grooming, dressing • Functional academics – reading, writing and mathematics • Vocational skills – punctuality, safety procedures • Leisure skills – sports, arts • Community skills – using public transport, using public washrooms

18. References • http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism • Wood, Judy W. (2002), Adapting Instruction To Accommodate Students in Inclusive Setting; Merrill Prentice Hall, Ohio • Teaching Students with Autism a Resource Guide for School (2000) , British Columbia, Ministry of Education (Special Programs Branch)