|
Knowing easy visual accommodations for students with autism spectrum disorders is critical for supporting educational progress and good social behaviors. Those with autism spectrum disorders tend to have unique learning differences, including being very visual thinkers. Additionally, they often tend to have language delays and deficits. The delays could range from being completely non-verbal to having language but not being able to understand more abstract language. Those difficulties can have a significant impact on educational performance. They can also impact how a student responds to both academic and behavioral directions. Visual supports, along with concrete literal wording, can help students to completely understand instructional content. They may also provide critical cues about what is expected of them next regarding behaviors and independent work. Even higher functioning students with higher level language skills will still benefit from visual cues that are in line with their more visual thinking. Intensive Visual Supports for Autism Visual communication systems use picture symbols in the place of words. The pictures can be actual photos or line drawings in the place of words. The same picture symbols should be used in both home and school for consistency. Additionally, the communication is two-way. Visuals should be quick to access so that caregivers can use the symbols to communicate to the child as well as teaching the child to use the symbols to communicate. Visual schedules use symbols for each activity in a day. The symbols are placed on a strip in order of occurrence. The purpose of the schedule is to allow the child to visually predict what will happen next, as well as to reassure them of the consistency of the daily routines. For a child with autism, sensory experiences and other factors can make the environment very unpredictable and they often find comfort in familiar routines. Social stories are short stories that are written in a very step by step fashion, with literal language and plenty of visuals. The social story describes an event that happened, the impact of that action and the expected replacement action, as well as the outcome. The purpose is to walk the student through what they did and what they should do instead. Social stories can be very effective for children with autism. Less Intense Visual Supports for Autism Written instructions and directions are very important for students with autism. They are often easily distracted and may miss directions; however, they may have a difficult time processing verbal information. Additionally, two or three step instructions may be more challenging. Fine motor skills are also sometimes weak in students with autism. Writing directions provide an easy to follow visual of what is expected. Visual cues are often an effective means of communication. Students with autism spectrum disorders are apt to have difficulty with implied meanings and will need more direct literal directions. However, many visual cues are a great way of providing direction non-verbally. Visual cues can also supplement verbal communication. Peer models are probably the easiest visual support to use. The peer model is a student who is always on task and who can sit near the student with autism. They are not a peer tutor, though. Students with autism spectrum disorders often look to their environment for visual cues when they are unsure of what to do or how to do it. Computer assisted instruction can also be a very effective means of providing visual supports. Children with autism are also often far more comfortable interacting on computers than with people. While social interaction should be encouraged, students may be far more engaged in instruction when it is provided through visual computer-based programs. Visual Academic Supports Many visual supports are things that all students can benefit from and can be routinely provided to enhance instruction. They may include: graphic organizers posters and pictures flow charts and diagrams color coded information There are also many ways to allow students to demonstrate their knowledge visually instead of through written language on worksheets, papers, or exams. Some easy ways to assess knowledge visually can include letting a student create a visual organizer, diagram, or picture of information or letting them create dioramas. Autism and Visual Supports Because students with autism spectrum disorders often tend to have deficits in language use and understanding and also tend to be very visual thinkers, using visual support can make communication more efficient. Using tools such as visual schedules, social stories, computer assisted instruction and peer modeling can help improve student learning and behavior, along with routine academic accommodations for autism. dissertation writing service
Related Articles -
Visual, Supports, Students,
|
