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Want quick and easy research-based practical applications? Use this section as a quick reference.

• Always use approaches backed by research.
  
  
• Tailor an individualized education program to meet each child’s needs.
  • Provide meaningful reinforcement that motivates students to learn.
• Focus on enhancing each child’s strengths. Keep a list of each child’s strengths and weaknesses. Help the child develop talent areas, while providing support for weaknesses.
• Avoid a rigid standard curriculum that is intended for all children.
• Establish ongoing communication with parents or guardians about each child’s skill development outside the classroom

• Consider multi-modal teaching methods.
  • Use a visual method of teaching for students who are visual learners and an auditory environment for auditory learners.
• Teach skills in the context that they will be used. Allow multiple opportunities to practice and rehearse skills.
• Provide opportunities to practice skills in different settings, especially with children who have difficulty generalizing skills to new situations.
• Introduce new tasks in a familiar environment. Gradually increase the complexity of tasks.

• Create a learning environment that enhances skill development.
  • Use clear and unambiguous language. Check understanding.
• Minimize distractions.
• Consider sensory factors in the learning environment that might affect each student, particularly lighting and noise level.
• Ensure consistency among all staff, including teaching aides, therapists, school nurses, and any other people in the school environment.
• Provide structure and a daily routine in the classroom.
• Use visual daily schedules to help students plan for transitions.
• Provide opportunities for each child to make choices.

• Encourage socially appropriate behavior.
  • Consider the message behind the behavior. (Does the child have an appropriate means of communication?)
• Encourage meaningful interaction with peers.
• Allow opportunities for interaction between children with autism and their peers in mainstream classrooms.

• Consider the cultural background of each student before choosing any single approach.



• Koegel and Koegel (1996) provide four additional suggestions in their book Teaching Children with Autism:

  1. Teach children how to respond to multiple cues in their environment.
  2. Motivate children to respond to social and environmental stimulation.
  3. Instruct children in self-management and independent responding.
  4. Educate children in full inclusion environments to increase social interaction and integration.

• Temple Grandin’s teaching tips. Temple Grandin, Ph.D., has written extensively about her life as a person with autism, and advises on teaching children with Autism.