Some good advice for professionals and parents when trying to remove some of the barriers to participation and learning ….
There are times when my autism creates a barrier to my learning.
When I find things really difficult I can appear defiant and sometimes rude-but I don’t mean to.
I need time to process what you’ve said before I can reply to your question.
I need time to process my thoughts and transfer them to words.
I need to organise my thoughts visually before I can write them down.
I understand explicit and direct instructions at my level of understanding but can be confused by inferred or unclear demands.
I understand better when work is presented in short sections or chunks with time to complete before moving on to the next stage.
Check I have understood the task by asking me to explain my thinking and what I am doing.
Encourage me to explain the bits I do understand when I have hit a problem.
Reinterpret the task or use a different approach if I continue to struggle with it.
Sometimes I get so anxious about things that I need time to “chill”.
When I return from some time out I work better when teachers show they understand my worries and use a supportive approach.
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