Expert: Valerie Herskowitz - 7/27/2009

Question
I am a final year student teacher on my last school placement. For the first time, I have been given an education support class to teach. In this class, I have a student with severe autism who barely engages in the class. This seemed to be frustrating to him.

I was wondering whether you had any advice on strategies I could use to include this student. I intend to speak to his assistants and teachers today to get an idea of some of the strategies used in the "normal" classroom - I am a drama teacher, and therefore teach in the theatre, which may have also been distressing to him I think - a break in routine.

I would also like to speak to his parents/guardians, but am unsure of how they would react to me - I am untrained and inexperienced in this area, but am keen to learn more, as these students have as much right to join in and have fun as the rest of the kids.

I was wondering whether you had any general advice for me?

Answer
Hi Renee

It's nice for you to show interest in this student. I can't give you specifics as the child as an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) which must be followed. Have you had a look at that yet? Maybe you could tell me the child's goals and we can go from there. Also, you need to discuss this with his teacher.

In general, you need to find out what interests the child has and then devise some activities around his interests. Children with autism have difficulty joining in on things that are of no interest to him. Let me know his interests and I will make some suggestions.