Tutoring for Autism Spectrum Disorder
What is ASD?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological condition that affects how an individual feels, thinks and interacts with others and their environment.
As the condition exists on a spectrum, every individual Autistic person experiences the condition in their own way and there is tremendous diversity within ASD.
According to Autism Spectrum Australia, around 1 in 70 people are on the autism spectrum and it is a lifelong condition that characterises all their interactions with the world.
Common signs of ASD include:
Avoiding eye contact
Direct & honest communication style
Dislike for small talk
Repeating words, phrases or sounds out of context
Very strong focus on specific interest areas
Discomfort with busy or loud environments
Strong preference for routine
Seeking sensory experiences
Difficulty with regulating emotions
Difficulty for understanding the emotions of others
Studies and research have also shown that individuals with ASD have also displayed some of the following attributes:
Strong long-memory skills
Precise and detail orientated
Strong adherence for rules
Better at thinking visually
Independent thinking
Intensive focus when their interests are involved
These are all attributes that we aim to encourage and nurture in our tutoring.
How do we support students in their lessons?
How do our tutors support students with Autism Spectrum Disorder in their lessons?
The following are just some ways BTA tutors help support children with ASD during tutoring:
Establish a routine for each lesson
Maintain the same desk set up for each lesson as changes can be very distracting
Integrating a student’s interests into lessons
Establish an environment of trust where the student feels comfortable raising any question about anything related to the content, no matter how obvious it may seem to you
Avoid using sarcasm and common saying as it can be difficult for students with ASD to understand
Let the student know that if they feel overwhelmed at any point, they can take a break
Give the student choices within the lesson such as: Use pen, Texta or iPad to answer questions? Read aloud or to themselves? Visual notes or written notes?
Some ways BTA tutors are taught to conduct lessons for students with ASD
(includes but are not limited to):
Creating visual study and school timetables with them to create a study structure
Visually representing key ideas from English texts or mathematical principles
Creating clear goals for each of their subjects and work towards those specific goals
Writing Creative or Persuasive pieces about their specific interests
Explaining the broader principles and theories behind the Maths, English or Science content their learning. Having a contextual understanding of the logic behind these rules can help students with ASD retain the information better.
Writing words and sentences with tactile materials
For more information, we encourage you to visit Autism Spectrum Australia.