autism: a primary school teacher’s perspective
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Autism: A Primary School Teacher’s Perspective. Helen Lewis. Learning objectives. To identify some of the barriers to learning encountered by children with ASD. To identify some strategies which can be used to support children with ASD to overcome barriers to learning. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Autism: A Primary School
Teacher’s Perspective
Helen Lewis
Learning objectives• To identify some of the barriers to learning
encountered by children with ASD.
• To identify some strategies which can be used to support children with ASD to overcome barriers to learning.
• To demonstrate how some teaching techniques are transferrable to the field of dentistry.
Some statistics• October 2010 – NI School Census:– The school population in NI is approx
330,000– There are approx 64,000 pupils (19.7%) on
the Special Educational Needs (SEN) register–60,000 (92%) of the pupils on the SEN
register are in mainstream schools
4,000 (1%) of pupils in NI have a diagnosis of AS/ASD
Brownlee Primary School
• Enrolment 172
• Number on SEN register – 38 (22%)
• Number of children with AS/ASD – 6 (3%)
AutismIndividuals with ASD are affected in their ability to:
• interpret social behaviour which in turn affects their ability to interact with others;
• understand and use verbal and non verbal communication;
• think and behave flexibly.
Education
• Education aims to ‘minimise’ (not cure) the effects of ASD on learning.
• Teaching approaches should be child centered, not method centered.
Social behaviourChildren with ASD may: • find social cues difficult to read;• appear socially insensitive / uninterested;• have difficulty maintaining social interactions
and turn taking;• have difficulty understanding other points of
view;• focus on their own obsessions.
Social understanding
Turn taking
Obsessions
Verbal & non-verbal communication
Children with ASD may:• not understand tones of voice;• not understand non-verbal behaviours; • not be able to use non-verbal behaviours;• cause offence without being aware;• monopolise interactions;• take things literally;• not understand implied meaning.
Non-verbal communication
Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
Other visuals
Taking things literally
Pull your socks up! I can play the piano by ear!
lower right E
lower right D
lower right C lower right B
lower right A
A B C
D
E
Flexible thinking and behaviour
Children with ASD may:• follow rules rigidly; • not have the skills to be able to ask for help or
clarification;• have difficulty prioritising and choosing;• have difficulty with organisation of self and
materials;• have difficulty in seeing connections and
generalising skills;• be sensitive to change.
Timetables
Organisation of self & materials
Seeing connections & generalising skills
Sequencing
I was sensitive to change. I was terrified of it because change leapt into the unknown and I could not get my head around what the unknown was.
Nita Jackson