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Title- Inclusive Classrooms for Autistic Children
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Bendigo Autistic Advocacy and Support Service.
Support, consultancy & advocacy in promoting inclusion and acceptance in all environments.
1 Listening and learning can look different
Image- black outline of an ear, smiling face and green circle with a yellow opened book outline
Text: Remember that listening for autistic students and others, may look different. Eye contact can be counterproductive. Asking for eye contact can reduce ability to listen and learn.
Many autistic students and others need to fidget, move and/or adopt different positions in order to listen optimally and learn meaningfully.
Offer genuine flexibility and adapt your expectations to incorporate different learning styles and needs.
2 Behaviour charts harm
Image of clipboard with dot points
Text: various methods of 'behaviour management' such as name lists, reward charts, stoplight and peg systems are harmful for many children.
These methods demotivate and cause phenomena anxiety. Everyone's abilities fluctuate and autistic children work extraordinarily hard to 'fit in' and often have unmet needs impacting on behaviour and achievement.
Using these methods promotes shame, impacts on self confidence, motivation and self esteem.
Instead, identify support needs, acknowledge effort and provide flexible supports by working with students and families.
3 Support ideas for the classroom
Image- solid black image of a hand
Text: Unrestricted access to fidget tools with relevant supported implementation.
Image: hand holding an electronic smart screen device
Text: Technology can be an invaluable tool in supporting learning-calming/regulating, communication, writing.
Image- Outline of earmuffs/headphones
Text: earmuffs/ear plugs/ headphones can be an important sensory support.
Image- black outline of a clock with time hands
Text: unrestricted access to breaks, safe space and contact person/s.
Image- circular outline with 'i' representing 'information'
Text: Visuals, visual timetables, task lists.
Image-Yellow lightbulb
Text: Always work with the student and family. Respect for a student's preferences is essential for trust and meaningful learning.
4 Interests and support
Image-spiral notebook with numbered points
Text: Develop an individual learning plan with the student and family. Ensure consistent communication amongst all staff. Prioritise safety and wellbeing.
A one-page Learning Profile can be a valuable tool, summarising important supports and information everyone needs to know.
Always have learning materials available in different formats and check in with the student.
Image- solid coloured heart shape- half red, half orange
Text: incorporate interests into curriculum when developing programs and events.
Don't use an autistic student's passions to entice them to complete tasks they find particularly hard, refuse or wouldn't otherwise do.
Passionate interests are ah important part of wellbeing and shouldn't be used in coercion.
Embrace a child's engaging in their interests. This IS learning and wellbeing!
5 Implementation
Images-
•yellow book with red bookmark
•filmstrip
•two conversation bubbles overlapped in blue and yellow
Text: Any new strategy needs the right implementation, the right timeframe and the right support.
Any new strategy needs a period of adjustment, consistency and genuine commitment.
Bendigo Autistic Advocacy and Support Service
We're here to help!
bendigoautisticadvocacy@gmail.com
Susanna Flanagan
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