Celebrating Autism Awareness Month.

April is Autism Awareness Month, a time when we focus on the unique contributions of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It's also a great opportunity to think about how we can tailor learning environments for autistic students. In Australia, about 1 in 100 children are diagnosed with ASD, so there's a good chance you have—or will have—students with autism in your class. Let's talk about some of the challenges these students might face and share tips on how you can use your student data to foster positive learning outcomes.

What's Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Autism Spectrum Australia (ASPECT.org), Australia’s largest autism-specific service provider, dedicated to supporting individuals with Autism, their families, schools, and other organisations in Australia. Aspect offers a variety of programs and services, focusing on education, therapy, and social inclusion. They also work to raise awareness about autism and provide resources to help families, schools, and communities better understand ASD. They describe Autism Spectrum Disorder as:

‘Autism is a condition that affects how a person thinks, feels, interacts with others, and experiences their environment. It is a lifelong disability that starts when a person is born and stays with them into old age. Every Autistic person is different to every other. This is why autism is described as a ‘spectrum’. – aspect.org.au

Aspect’s accessible and evidence-informed wealth of knowledge is second to none; we will be referencing their research throughout this blog.

While some students with ASD might have challenges with communication or social skills, others could be highly focused and detail-oriented. Understanding this diversity is key to supporting autistic students in the classroom.

Challenges in the Classroom

Autistic students might struggle with traditional classroom setups. Here are some common challenges:

Communication: Some students may have limited verbal skills or find it hard to understand body language and other nonverbal cues.

Sensory Sensitivities: Bright lights, loud noises, and certain textures can be overwhelming for some students with autism.

Social Interaction: Engaging in group activities or making friends can be difficult.

These challenges can impact a student's learning experience, but there are ways to make the classroom more inclusive and supportive.

Autism is a spectrum, and challenges that may be present in one student may not apply to another. The challenges listed previously are a good place to start when learning about autism, however ASPECT takes a deeper dive into some common characteristics that may be present for those with ASD. While it is tricky to tailor a learning environment for every student, we have put together some tips to consider when trying to support your ASD students.

Tips for Supporting Autistic Students

Creating an inclusive learning environment for autistic students doesn't require dramatic changes. Here are a few things you can do:

Every student learns differently, and this is especially true for autistic students. Try to adapt your teaching methods to fit their needs. This could mean using more visual aids, providing hands-on activities, or allowing extra time for tasks. Use student records to your advantage, identify examples of when a student has achieved and compare it to when they have struggled. Just as there are many ways for autism to present in students, there are many combinations of factors that can affect success or struggle. Consider the style of learning delivered, topics covered, size of the class, and assessment style, for example. You may uncover the ‘secret sauce’ for engaging that student in their learning and help create a learning environment that lets them feel included. ASPECT has a great list of characteristics of autism that can help you know what to look for when identifying factors that may contribute to a student’s personal success.

Many autistic students have sensory sensitivities, so creating a sensory-friendly classroom can make a big difference. Consider dimming the lights, reducing noise levels, and providing quiet spaces for students who need a break. One of the biggest sensory loads can be a loud and busy classroom, many autistic students with sensory sensitivities benefit from a quieter space so, when possible, try to provide these students with a quiet, or small cohort alternative to the busy class. You could also offer sensory tools like stress balls or fidget toys to help them manage sensory overload when a quieter learning space is not available.

Some students with autism struggle with communication and can need ‘extra time to understand spoken information’. Many of these students find comfort and social connection by communicating through technology, and there are many ways you can introduce technology to engage with these student’s learning. For example, you could provide lesson recordings or speech-to-text transcriptions of your lessons to allow students with communication delays time to catch up. Remember to review your student data to see if these strategies align with any differences in student outcomes.

Social interaction can be challenging for autistic students, but it's an important part of their development. You can encourage social skills by organising structured activities that promote teamwork, using peer mentors, or incorporating social stories into your lessons. You can also use your student data and records to identify other students with similar interests as your autistic students to find peer mentors or group members for a social initiative.

Parents and caregivers often have valuable insights into their child's needs. Keep an open line of communication with families to understand what works best for their child. This communication line is a two-way street, especially for autistic students with communication and verbal difficulties, updating parents on their child from a school’s perspective can help them to adapt and accommodate the student’s life at home in a more informed way.

Celebrating Autism and Spreading Awareness Beyond the Month of April

Since the inception of Autism Awareness Day in 2007, Autism Awareness Month has been a great platform for spreading knowledge, awareness and acceptance for people with autism. It's also an opportunity to reflect on how we can better support autistic students and create a more empathetic and accepting environment. Organisations like ASPECT provide resources and support for autistic individuals and their families. They can be a great resource if you're looking for more information on autism and how to support autistic students in your classrooms and beyond.