Tips for Teaching an Autistic Child

Teaching an autistic child requires different methods than you would normally use and they will require more patience. It is important to know how the autistic child learns to enable you to choose the right strategies that will be the most beneficial to them.

Much of their learning capacity will depend on the severity of their disorder and you will need to determine their physical abilities such as hearing, eyesight and control of their hands to enable you to provide proper teaching tools.

Most autistic children are visual thinkers, therefore, you may need to combine pictures with words for them to comprehend what you are attempting to teach.

For example: The autistic child may learn nouns quickly since nouns are easier to illustrate than verbs. When teaching verbs such as up or down, walk or run, demonstrate and complete the action you are trying to teach.

Keep the sentences short, autistic children cannot follow long sentences and several things in a sequence can also confuse them.

The autistic child works best with an established routine, in a quiet environment and without interruptions. They may be easily disturbed by loud and sudden noises such as bells and PA announcements. You may need to work with them on a one-to-one basis.

For the student with visual issues it is best to use incandescent or natural lighting from windows and avoid fluorescent lighting or other flickering lights.

Several methods of teaching are available from pictures and flashcards to video's and DVD's. Verbal communication with others is often very difficult for the autistic student and many have difficulty controlling their hands making it difficult for them to learn to write.

Depending on the severity of their disorder, many autistic children can learn to communicate much faster when using computer programs.

When using computers, laptops or flat panel computer screens are much more relaxing for their eyes. It is best to place the keyboard in front of the screen to allow them to see what they are typing which helps them to keep in focus. If the child is having a problem using the computer mouse, a roller ball or touch screen may be easier for them to navigate.

Most public school districts have a Special Education Department that provides teaching services for autistic children. Older children may need a special tutor to help them keep in pace with the other students in their age group.

Since there are varying degrees of autism, it is advisable to seek advice from a doctor or other professional regarding the best method of schooling your child.

Source: autism.about.com