Autism (continued)

Buy this book »

Establish Effective Communication

Discuss optimal communication patterns and design communication strategies with special education teachers, parents, and peers. Strategies might include sign language or Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) methods. For example, in the following scenario, Tony is a young boy with autism who does not have language, but does communicate with an AAC procedure referred to as the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). PECS teaches students to use pictures and symbols to initiate and respond to communication from others (Bondy & Frost, 2002).

Develop Social Competence

Unless you make a point to design behavior plans with the student’s IEP team and implement these plans systematically you may find it easy to become overwhelmed by the student’s challenging behaviors (e.g., aggression, self-injury, hyperactivity, compulsive behaviors, self-stimulatory behaviors, or running away) (Ruble & Dalrymple, 1996). Teach students to wait their turn, share materials, and know when they need to be quiet and when they can talk. Teach them to use socially appropriate behaviors throughout the school day to help promote generalization of appropriate social behavior. Reward successive approximations, and work toward having students become more independent. Develop behavior management plans based on an analysis of student preferences and classroom dynamics.

Create a learning environment in which the student with autism feels comfortable, including a predictable schedule of daily activities, a pattern of events, and class routines. Use pictures to list the sequence of activities if the student is a nonreader, and allow the student to order the sequence if possible. If you change the class routine, prepare the student ahead of time to avoid undue stress.

One promising technique for improving social behavior is the use of social stories (Barry & Burlew, 2004; Gray & Garand, 1993). Social stories use simple sentences and pictures to demonstrate the desired social behavior and the feelings and reactions of others, such as, “When I return my tray after I have finished eating, my teacher is happy.” The Research Highlight feature demonstrates an application of social stories to improve the social functioning of students with autism in a middle school setting (Graetz, 2003).

Enlist the help of peers to reinforce socially appropriate behavior. Group students with autism with higher functioning students. Students with autism can be included successfully in cooperative learning groups when paired with partners who have been taught to communicate effectively with them in reading and science (Kamps, Leonard, Potucek, & Garrison-Harrell, 1995).

Watch for signs that the student is becoming stressed. Students with autism may react aggressively or withdraw completely under novel or stressful situations. Try to predict when the class demands might become stressful and attempt to eliminate that source of stress.

Finally, establish and maintain effective communication with all individuals who are in contact with students with autism. Communicate regularly with parents. Send home weekly or daily notes, short audiotaped messages, or a journal that travels back and forth from you to parents.