Activities for autistic children and guides for parents? Studies of students on the autism spectrum in distance education (studying at school without being physically present) or experiencing homework difficulties suggest several helpful strategies for parents. Students learning at home will likely need to engage in independent learning tasks such as completing worksheets or writing assignments. This is somewhat similar to doing homework assigned by a teacher. But students on the autism spectrum often do less homework than their peers. And they report finding homework too hard, frustrating and overwhelming.
ASD students perform well when they participate in routine and repetitive activities. However, if that routine deviates, these students may have problems adapting, which can lead to behavioral, academic or mood problems. In fact, even being confronted with the possibility of change can be anxiety-inducing for these children. When the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed in 1990, it recognized that because of the special challenges people with disabilities face, they need special legal protections to ensure they are treated fairly and not taken advantage of because of their condition. What this means for ASD students is that a host of legal rights ensure that they can enjoy the same educational opportunities that other students do.
Considering their skill sets and behavior, they are encouraged to be involved in individual sports. These types of sports do not require much social communication and there is lesser demand placed in their sensory systems when engaged in them. Although multiple sensory systems are still activated and sports events may seem too much to process, these Autistic teens can have interventions that focus on the desensitization of sensory systems to avoid sensory meltdowns. See even more details at Mike Alan.
There is nothing more satisfying than when you can help another human being, no matter how big or small the gesture is. So, the pleasure is even more significant when we can do it efficiently and see progress daily in our autistic kids. It will make a substantial difference in your results, and we hope you have the same success the other parents had. What are your most effective methods of improving your communication with autistic kids? Feel free to share your stories in the comments and interact with others.
Language is constantly changing and families approach language in various ways: Our personal language choice of “autistic” is in support of the preferences of many (but not all!) in the autism community, who emphasize that “autistic” acknowledges autism as intrinsic to an individual’s identity. “Child with autism,” on the other hand, separates the disability from the person in a way that often stigmatizes it. There are ongoing debates on this subject, and some parents may prefer “child with autism” or similar constructions. Many parents of autistic children face the prospect of never having a conversation with their child, or have to worry about serious injuries due to motor planning challenges. Remember: framing helps. Frame the announcement as something particular to your kid, and acknowledge that individuals are different with a range of experiences. Even a quick nod to the broader issues can help dispel some of the tension of milestone culture.