Sue Larkey Blog
Helping you “Make a Difference”
Tips, Strategies, Time Savers and Inspiration to help make difference for a child with an ASD in your class, home or community.
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Super Seven Tips to Engage the Disengaged Child
Many students with ASD need adaptations, supports, curriculum differentiation. You may find that in some subjects these are not required i.e. they are naturally engaged in that subject or topic. However, when they are disengaged you may need to try a range of different strategies to make learning successful. I have included Seven Super Strategies to help with this challenge. √ Finding it hard to know where to start the activity: This is particularly common in written tasks e.g. "Write what you did on the weekend" is too broad a task. Give more specific parameters such as "What did you do on Saturday morning?" In Secondary it may be to choose a chronic disease to research and you may need to give them a choice of two diseases. √ Processing time: Give them time to process your questions (verbal and written response). It can take students up to a minute to formulate the answer in the correct sequence. If you rush them they often stop engaging. √ Limiting choices: To choose a topic,...
Sue Larkey Transition Tips
Transition includes change in teacher, change in room, change in students in the class not just starting preschool, school, high school and beyond. The nature of ASD is such that transition can be extremely stressful, no matter what age or how BIG or SMALL the change maybe. Changing Teacher is like…. Moving to a Foreign Country For the child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) moving to a new teacher, classroom or campus is like moving to foreign country. There is a different language (eg one teacher says ‘pack away’, new teacher says ‘clean up’). Teachers and other students have different facial expressions and body language to interpret, new rules, new schedules, new smells, different pencils just to mention a few changes. This new ‘foreign country’ causes the child to feel enormous anxiety and stress, which in turn can lead to behaviour. This anxiety and behaviour can be managed by effective planning and transition strategies. This e-newsletter aims to give you ideas,...
7 Top Tips For Visual Communication
Visual Communication(Easy to Download Version Below)Current research says that as many as 25% of people with ASD are non-verbal. Others can talk but have difficulty communicating their needs, they maybe echolalic, selective mute* or have limited words. Unfortunately some children with regressive autism may learn to talk and lose their words and they do not return. Giving children an AAC (Augmentative, Alternative Communication) is vital. AAC and visual supports can do more than take the place of speech – they typically foster its development.Picture ExchangePicture exchange is the most common AAC taught to young children with disabilities to help them communicate their needs and wants. Symbols or pictures are used and adults or support people can provide the voice for the child. There are a number of picture or symbol exchange communication programmes. It doesn’t matter which one you use and its fine to use a variety of different types. The best value for money system is...
