Top 3 Things to Know When Working with Kids with Autism

It can seem daunting to work with a child with autism. But there are a few things you can keep in mind to help alleviate everyday stressors that make it hard for them to focus. Here are our top three tips to know to help a child with autism cope throughout the day.

Establish and Stick to a Routine

Children with autism tend to crave order and find comfort in predictability and routine because it can be difficult for them to process change. If they have an established routine, it can help ease anxiety by eliminating the concern of what will happen in the future. Imagine if you were working on an important project and someone came along and shut off your computer – it would frustrate and upset you right? This is what a transition can feel like to a child with autism.

A routine will also allow a child with autism to focus more and get more accomplished. If you keep to a routine, stay consistent, and follow through on things you say, this will create a higher possibility of improving behaviors and instilling trust in you. If you have an established routine, but need to adjust it, make sure to make it known and outline it before the changes happen. This buffer will help ease the anxiety that comes with any change.

Be Aware of Sensory Overload

A child with autism can have problems processing all the things in his or her surrounding environment, which can be incredibly overwhelming. This happens when sensory input is too much for someone to process, which causes extreme anxiety and distress. When working with a child with sensory processing disorder (SPD), try to eliminate things that might put extra stress on their senses.

In the classroom, fluorescent lights can be noisy and distracting. If possible, try to switch to bulbs that don’t flicker and that remain silent. Screeching chairs and loud bells can painfully irritate anyone’s eardrums, especially those with sensory processing disorder. Tennis balls on the bottom of chairs can help lessen – or eliminate completely – the noise they make when they move. If you can’t silence the sound from school bells, you can try to muffle them by stuffing towels (or something else that can soften sounds) in front of the intercom.

It’s important to note that people can be diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder and not have autism. However, most people with autism are impacted by sensory processing.

Incorporate Passions into Lessons

Sometimes people with autism seem to be obsessed with certain – and sometimes random – things. For example, trains, dolls, or maps can be the subject of their obsession. But don’t think of this as an obsession; think of it as their passion. If a child with autism struggles to focus or learn, try to incorporate their passions into your lessons.

If you want to teach addition to a child who loves trains, use trains in the lesson! Asking something along the lines of, “if you have two trains with coal engines and three trains with steam engines, how many trains do you have?” can make a huge difference to a child struggling to learn.

Most importantly, when working with anyone with autism, remember that no two cases of autism are the same. These are just a few tips, so don’t feel constrained! Check out our training courses to find out even more things to know when working with kids with autism.