Expert: Trey McGowan - 7/27/2007

Question
Hi,
I am a swimmng teacher who has undertaken additional training to teach people with disabilities, either physical or intellectual.
At present I have two students with autism (5 year olds) who go to school together and as such share a half hour private lesson with me.
I have a son with dyspraxia and through him and my other students (i also coach special olympics squads) I have found that the kids learn best through repetition.
With the girls I start off with the same song each week and we go through the same rountines, extending them out a little bit more each week. Another parent who was watching my lesson commented on the fact that I was doing the same routine and this in her opinion was not good for the girls- what do you think. I have always felt that by staying within a routine with children with special needs don't feel as threatened if they know whats coming next. Any feedback you can give me is much appreciated
thanks
Jacy

Answer
Hello there, Jacy!

My thoughts on this are that, for a child with autism, routine is both the most comfortable and the best way to learn. Things changing, especially suddenly, can be extremely stressful to them. Autistics also learn things by rote with astonishing speed at times, so if it is something that is achieved through repetition, like knowing the swimming strokes for example, then the routine works extremely well for them. I think your idea is fantastic. It gives their associative mind something to lock on to and the repetition of movements to teach them those routines. Kudos for thinking of it!

The only thing that one has to be careful of with routine is to make sure that it's flexible enough to let them use what they have learned in the 'real world'. In this case, make sure that the swimming strokes or the method is something they can repeat to themselves even without the help of the song being there. It sounds silly, but the autistic mind can be extremely associative at times. They hear the music, they will think of how to do those strokes. But make sure that they can still do the strokes without thinking of the music.

The main reason the parent brought up the fact that it is not good is that many children *do* get bored of repetition. They may require a change-up to keep them interested, tests to make certain of something, breaks to keep going. I'm sure that you've seen this with your other students, especially if you have had to teach ADHD students at times. Of course, I'm not a teacher, so my view on that is totally from the side of someone who's seen way too many kids complaining about the repetition in school.

This is a pay site, so I don't know *all* the materials in it, but you may find some of the hints in the 'free' section might give you a good idea of how the teaching for autistic children goes. It's much more general than 'swimming', naturally, but the methods may help you.
http://www.autisminspiration.com/

A swimming teacher who teaches autistic children.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0NTB/is_6_44/ai_n13481136

And finally, a short snippet on the 'why', in case you ever decide to hand it off to someone
http://specialneedsparenting.suite101.com/article.cfm/can_autistic_kids_learn_to...

Thanks for taking the time to do wonderful things for these kids!

Trey