Supporting pupils with autism
Guidance and teaching materials to ensure learners with autism are included in the classroom
Tens of millions of people across the globe have autism, a developmental disability that affects social interaction, communication and behaviour in a variety of different ways.
Autism Awareness Day (2 April) was established by the UN with the dual purpose of raising the profile of the spectrum condition and bringing autism organisations together to collaborate on research, diagnosis and treatment.
Dedicated days, such as this one, are the perfect opportunity for you to review your approach to teaching. We’ve compiled a selection of resources to help you understand how autism can affect pupils’ learning and offer up some ideas to help you support them in the classroom.
Tips for teachers
Teaching guides, workbooks, short videos… Explore the reality of life for pupils with autism before adapting your classroom to cater for the needs of all learners with the help of these innovative ideas.
Teachers TV: Understanding Autism
Autism spectrum disorders A resource pack for school staff
Autism Awareness Peer Support Pack
Power Point presentation and student workpack/activities about the positive aspects of autism and how to be a better friend to someone who has autism.
ASD / Autism Friendly Classrooms - CPL / CPD
Autism - An informative presentation on understanding autism for primary school children
If you have any questions or need any support, send me a message and I'll do anything I can to help. My resources are all English spelling.
Please do review any resources that you download - many thanks!
Resources for pupils
Help prepare students for new experiences and demonstrate how autism isn't a barrier with these stimulating activities. From planning templates to lessons on conversational skills, there’s something to engage every student.
Dodeca Dice - Circle Time Faces and Moods
- copy that face
- what is that mood..?
- what makes me....?
- what makes you...?
- what makes her...?
Create and customise your own dodeca dice from a library of 10,000 Creative Commons symbols:
http://www.senteacher.org/worksheet/101/TwelveSidedDice.html
Visual Timetable Cards
This easy to edit PowerPoint file contains over 100 ready to print timetable cards to help you create your own visual timetable in your Early Years setting.
Perfect for establishing routine, settling anxiety, building speech and language.
Recommended by occupational therapists, special needs specialists, speech therapists and behaviour management coaches, a visual timetable is a must for any classroom.
The PowerPoint is easy to edit - just print the existing cards or edit them to create your own using our font or your choice of font. File also includes blank cards to allow you to add your own labels using your own image and font.
Friendships - conversation skills
Task Card/board examples - lesson structure support
Autism Classroom Visuals, First Then and More Visuals with Communication Symbols
The boards included come in both b/w and col option. There is a contents page included so you are aware of what you are printing in the PDF document.
Included are:
First, Then board b/w
Now, Next board b/w
First, Next, Then board b/w
Now, Next, Then board b/w
First, Then, Last board b/w
First, Then board col
Now, Next board col
First, Next, Then board col
Now, Next, Then board col
First, Then Last board col
Visuals/Symbols
I highly recommend cutting out and laminating the individual pieces so that they will be stronger and longer lasting. There are also brief instructions included on the first page of the PDF, however this is a quick and simple resource to put together that will work wonders with you and your students throughout the year.
This resource comes with some choice symbols, if you feel there is something that you desperately need please feel free to contact me through the 'Ask a question' tab as a request and I will try my best to add it.
Contains 16 pages.
Transition Booklet ( SEN, Autism)
Transition Booklet for KS1/ KS2 - end of year, new class, social story.
Pages 1 - 6 Booklet Cover page (Year 1 - 6)
Page 7 About Me page (name, age, space for a photo, likes/dislikes)
Page 8 Introduction to transition
Page 9 New teacher’s name and space for a photo/ drawing
Page 10 A note from new teacher (to be completed by the teacher)
Pages 11 - 13 Introducing the staff (space for photos and notes to be completed by the Year Group staff)
Page 14 For photos/ drawings of a new classroom
Page 15 New Classroom scavenger hunt activity
Pages 16 - 18 For photos/ drawings of the areas in the new year group (playground, toilets, lunch trolley, etc.)
Page 19 Things that will stay the same in the new year group (to be completed with the pupil)
Page 20 Things that will be different in the new year group (to be completed with the pupil)
Page 21 Blank page
Page 22 Closing page
Page 23 Credits page
For most pupils, transition to a new Year group is an exciting time. For some, however, it can be worrying and unsettling. This booklet is created to be used in KS1 and KS2. Teachers and teaching assistants work on completing the booklet together with their pupils, once completed - the book can be used as a Transition Social Story.
The document is in .pdf format and not editable. 23 pages included.
