Diversity Series: Differentiating for students with ASD
Find a list of schools
Researches estimate that autism affects one in 166 children, increasing the likelihood that educators have, or will have, an autistic student in their classroom. As part of our Diversity Series, Star Academy teacher Kelly Farrell provides some tips and techniques for teaching children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Read more
List of autism schools
Toronto, Ontario — Bond Academy is a private, co-educational, non-denominational independent school with students from Montessori Casa to Grade 12. Our educational process is Beyond the Books! Education as it should be. View School Profile.
Grades:
PS to 12 (Coed)
Type:
Liberal Arts
Tuition:
$7,000 to $16,000
Living:
Boarding/Day
Enrollment:
550
Avg. Class:
10 to 15
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Toronto, Ontario — Toronto Prep School starts later in order to maximize teen learning. The optimal time for teenagers to learn is late in the morning through to late afternoon. Our classes start at 10:00 am. View School Profile.
Grades:
7 to 12 (Coed)
Type:
Traditional
Tuition:
$29,450
Living:
Day
Enrollment:
430
Avg. Class:
14 to 16
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Langley, British Columbia — Whytecliff is a safe, empathetic & supportive place for teens with a diverse range of learning needs / personal challenges. Our positive community & high-growth environment pulls each child up to be their very best! View School Profile.
Grades:
8 to 12 (Coed)
Type:
Progressive
Tuition:
$8,900 to $19,500
Living:
Homestay/Day
Enrollment:
47
Avg. Class:
3 to 6
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We are a therapeutic boarding school for Gr. 1-12 students requiring individualized academic, clinical, and behaviour-management solutions in small class sizes and professional home stay or boarding environments
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Ontario Virtual School is an Ontario Ministry-inspected credit-granting institution offering high school courses for Grades 9-12 in an interactive online format. Students can start anytime with 24/7 access.
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Lynn-Rose's philosophy is to create an environment that is challenging and rewarding; focusing on social, intellectual and emotional aspects of the students development through the International Baccalaureate program.
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We identify the experiences that facilitate education that empowers the individual and fosters a community of collaborative contributors through interdisciplinary, integrated integrated projects.
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We are different! As a leading IB World School and university preparatory school with a focus on student life, SJA students are inspired to confidently make their mark in the world.
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Robert Land Academy, established in 1978, is a private military-inspired boarding school (Gr 5-12) helping boys to experience validation, realize their potential and gain admission to post-secondary programs.
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Crestwood Preparatory College offers a university preparatory program for students in grades 7 to 12. Crestwood always strive to Inspire Excellence and to Nurture the Individual.
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Located in the heart of Toronto, McDonald International Academy offers programs for grades 9 to 12 . Our average class size is 10 to 20 students.
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Our mission is personalized student academic success in a friendly and caring school community, in which all students are emotionally supported and socially welcome.
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New Haven is a leading private school and non-profit centre supporting individuals with ASD and their families year-round. Our focus centres on growing potential and changing the lives of those with ASD to SOAR.
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Learning is not one to many. It's many to one. From the teachers to the principal to the coaches and beyond, learning at WillowWood is a team approach.
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A special needs education private school in Mississauga offering programs using the Developmental, Individual Differences, Relationship-Based (DIR®) Model. Theme-based DIR® March/Summer Camps are also available.
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Junior Academy offers programs for students from Toddler to Grade Eight, in midtown Toronto. The average class size is 10 to 14 students and it caters to many types of students with different learning profiles.
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The Maples is an established private IB World School in Orangeville, Ontario providing exemplary education for students (Pre-School to Grade 8). Daily French instruction in PS and Kindergarten with an academic focus.
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Brighton is the leading private school in Toronto for students with academic and/or social challenges. We offer curriculum-based and remedial Elementary programs; and credit, pre-credit and non-credit Secondary streams.
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Kenneth Gordon Maplewood School is a centre of excellence in developmentally informed instruction that empowers children with learning disabilities in a passionate, progressive and inspiring learning environment.
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ABA based curriculum and individualized approach targets not only academic success but also emotional, social, vocational and life skills that are the core skills of life-long success of each student.
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Acadecap International School (Académie de la Capitale), an IB World School, offers bilingual and/or English programmes from JK to Grade 12. Students thrive in a growth mindset environment and a culture of excellence.
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Students receive an excellent education which prepares them well for university, college and a wide variety of workplaces.
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Esprit Academy is a community and environment that cultivates independence and lifelong learning through individualized experiences that integrates and connects knowledge and skills.
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Blyth Academy Downsview Park offers outstanding education coupled with unique opportunities for student-athletes to engage in sports-specific and fitness training throughout their regular school day.
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Through our dynamic individual education plans, mentorship, and therapeutic counselling we ensure all students feel comfortable, respected and cared for, so they stay actively engaged in their educational journey.
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Glen Briar Academy provides hands on programs and student centered teaching strategies that shape life long learners.
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Since 1861, The Sacred Heart School of Montreal, the city’s only all-girls English Catholic high school, has been preparing girls to change the world. We offer grades 7 to 12, day school and boarding.
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Building on internationally acclaimed preschool reading success, SLI has grown into a hub for ground-breaking student achievement in literary, STEM, and artistic achievement across Pre-K - Gr 6 (offered on site/ online)
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Collège Bourget is a day & boarding school situated between Montreal & Ottawa. The school offers Quebec's french program from Grade 7 till Grade 11 and english program from Grade 10 till Grade 12.
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Magnificent Minds Inc. caters to students whose needs are not being met in traditional school environments, pursuing personal best through a balanced approach to education.
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Our curriculum are designed to build essential skills and concepts that help with the cognitive, social, creative, emotional, and physical development of your child with the aim to be a successful learner for life!
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Meadow Green Academy provides a strong Christian education in a nurturing environment. Strong academics combined with sports, enriched music, visual arts, and dramatic arts programs provide a well-rounded experience
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Blyth Academy The Glebe focuses on personalized education, small class sizes, and strong student support for Grades 9-12. Big experience in a small school! Part of community of nine Blyth Academy campuses in Ontario.
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We offer a specialized program focusing on the core subjects of language and math, incorporating cognitive activities and therapies for students with learning difficulties to help them learn and succeed.
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King’s Christian Collegiate is an independent Christian high school providing superb instruction in a safe, stimulating academic environment. Caring staff set the tone for a positive, up-beat culture.
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Edelweiss Private Academy offers elementary education to students with ASD and other exceptionalities, maintaining small teacher to student ratios. We promote strong academic, physical and social-emotional development.
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-Passionate Learning: learning should be joyful and for life, not just for tests.
-Skills for a Modern World: building the confidence to be leaders and Changemakers.
-Holistic Wellbeing: creating conditions to thrive.
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The YMCA Academy is an alternative school for students in grades 6 to 12 with learning disabilities and learning style differences, offering individualized Special Education support.
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Heritage Academy provides a multisensory learning environment and supports students with Dyslexia, ADD, ADHD, and Anxiety in Grades 1 -12.
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LCH is the only full-service independent high school in London. Through a Christian worldview, we offer the OSSD, OFSAA sports, extracurriculars, travel opportunities, and authentic learning experiences.
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Northstar Montessori offers an accredited Montessori curriculum from Toddler age to Grade 8. Our goal is to develop strong character and contributing citizens who understand that their involvement makes a difference.
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Aurora Montessori offers an enriched Montessori program for students up to Grade 8 with an option of an OSSD credit in Grade 9 Academic Math. A unique Mindfulness and Technology program develops key 21st-century skills.
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Oxford Learning Academy – where your child will experience a homeschooling approach with the benefits of socialization in a small classroom environment. This Milton private school runs from K to grade 8.
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Each student is unique. Why be just a number when you can be valued for who you are? We enfold, engage and empower every student in a safe, friendly, and supportive learning community. It's where you belong!
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Blyth Academy Orbit is our newest campus, offering grades 5 to 12. It revolves around the same principles and academic structure as our physical schools, but operates in the virtual space.
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Faith is at the center of all we do at MCI- from the court, to the stage, to the classroom. We work to provide a safe space for students to ask questions, dig deeper, grow into who God is calling them to be.
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The OOS is a 21st Century school that prepares students for a 21st Century Economy. To us, teaching students Curriculum based Skills is as important as helping them develop the 21 Century Competencies tomorrow needs.
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Founded in 1990, Yip's Montessori Program cater to children from 1.5 to 6 years old. Yip's four campuses are located in Markham, Unionville and Thornhill.
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Incorporating academic excellence, service and peace-making, Rockway is a diverse learning community of students in Grades 7 to 12 including a dynamic international student exchange program.
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Venture Academy is a therapeutic treatment and education program for students who may be struggling with ADHD, learning challenges, underachieving, behavioural issues, and a variety of clinical diagnoses.
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Brighton Launch reimagines post-secondary education for young adults with intellectual challenges. Using a comprehensive skills curriculum and individualized goals, we prepare students for lives of success.
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Kingsley's small classes and personal approach help students reach their unique potential. Each child is seen, heard, and respected. French, music, and phys-ed round out a program which includes plenty of time outdoors.
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At G.B.MS, D.E.P.S and Durham Academy Secondary school focus is on each individual student and helping them meet their unique potential and goals. We believe in excellent customer service and families have a voice. Throughout the year we enhance our programs through program enhancement and enrichment.
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Blyth Academy Lawrence Park is one of 10 Blyth Academy campuses in Ontario. Our campus located in midtown Toronto provides the warmth and community of a neighbourhood school.
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Alder Ridge offers 21st century education. Our innovative learning initiatives are founded in the Montessori Philosophy. We offer a student led, self paced learning environment that holistically supports all areas.
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Providence Academy is the only Private French Catholic School offering a trilingual program of study in Ontario with classes from nursery to grade eight. Tuition: $8,800-10,300. Extracurricular activities: $600-$650.
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University of Toronto Schools (UTS) offers a transformative education to high-achieving students in Grades 7 to 12 from all backgrounds. UTS graduates take initiative and innovate as socially responsible global citizens.
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The Dunblaine School empowers students with learning disabilities to reach their full potential. It offers programs for students from grade one to eight, with an average class size of 5-7 students.
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The London School offers grades 7-12 personalized education in an alternative program that addresses the needs of secondary school students who may thrive in a small community of learners while working toward graduation.
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UMS offers year-ahead advanced programs from pre-school to grade nine. We blend high standards for academic success with the social and emotional development of the individual child.
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USCA Academy is a leading Canadian international School and private schoo for local and international students The School offers Elementary School Program(Grade1-8), Ontario Secondary School Diploma Program(Grade 9-12).
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Venture Academy is a therapeutic treatment and education program for students who may be struggling with ADHD, learning challenges, underachieving, behavioural issues, and a variety of clinical diagnoses.
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RJC is a Grades 10-12 boarding school accredited by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education. RJC is student and community-focused all while offering excellent academics and exceptional athletic and fine arts programs.
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Cornerstone students love to shape the future. They INSPIRE learning, DISCOVER their potential, EMPOWER themselves to be innovative citizens. Our boundless learning strategies open doors for successful learning.
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For more than 40 years, Kanata Montessori has been graduating students with self-confidence, critical thinking skills, respect, high academic achievement, and an international perspective.
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The only Kindergarten that will prepare your child with special needs to grade one,we are using the Miller Method and DIR/FloorTime.our ratio is 1:4 student.
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Grade 9-12 students are encouraged to be confident servant-leaders. Student diversity provides a global perspective of life and faith. Great Lakes' graduates are accepted by colleges and universities of their choice.
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Don Valley Academy is a private high school whose primary aim is to prepare our students for post-secondary studies. We are dedicated to providing educational programs that meet the individual needs of each student.
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Scholars' Hall is a family-focused school that uses traditional teaching methods combined with a fully integrated Leadership program to raise strong, capable, independent, and intelligent young adults.
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The Mabin School offers programs from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6 in Toronto. Its average class size is 20 students.
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Canada’s only independent, Catholic school for boys in Grades 7-12, taught in the Basilian tradition of forming the mind, body, and soul. Since 1852, we have educated students in goodness, discipline, and knowledge.
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Centennial Academy is a bilingual high school supporting student success through an inclusive, structured environment that provides all learners with 25 academic accommodations.
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First school of its kind in the world. We are unique in everything we do. It is time for thinking outside of the box and raising a new generation of leaders, innovaters, inventors and entrepreneurs.
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Heuristic & autodidactic, inspired by Sudbury & democratic models. Students are self-directed, holistically empowered. Voluntary attendance, year-round calendar, agency, & consent inspire free learning.
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The Study, founded in 1915, is one of Canada's premier all-girls' schools. Dedicated teachers offer a warm and stimulating bilingual mother-tongue environment from Kindergarten to Grade 11. The World Needs Great Women.
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MJDS inspires a lifetime love for learning in a nurturing environment that fosters respect for oneself, the community and the world, guided by the shared values of Judaism and Montessori education.
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Virtual High School has been a trusted leader in online education since 2001. We help over 8,000 students succeed each year with fully online, self-paced courses and unparalleled student support.
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At SCELS we believe giving children an early education will build a solid foundation to prepare them for their next school setting.
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Wildwood Academy is a special needs private school in Oakville. It offers programs from grades 2 to 8, with an average class size of four to ten students.
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We have two main programs we offer throughout the school year, our half day enriched preschool program for children ages 3-6yrs, and our educational before and after school program for children ages 4-12yrs.
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mindwerx4kids belief is that each person's combination of talents is distinctive. We provide an enriched curriculum with an individualized learning approach that incorporates a student's strengths to make learning fun!
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We are proud to offer families Private elementary school education where God and His Word are central to the curriculum. Our faculty of qualified teachers is committed to loving and teaching each child.
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Bishop Hamilton Montessori School, a not-for-profit independent school in Ottawa, provides an authentic Christian Montessori approach for children 3 months to 14 years.
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The Clover School's innovative curriculum combines Montessori essentials with heart-centred learning practices designed to nurture the mind, heart, health, and soul of each child.
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Our objective is to guide children with respect and understanding, developing in them a love of learning. Our aim is to create a nurturing environment full of intellectual, social and moral learning and development.
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Team School offers programs from grades 1 to 12 in Mississauga. Its average class size is 8 to 12 students.
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Every student has the ability to learn and achieve academic success. Through our subject specialist teachers, City Academy is committed to helping students reach their full potential with flexible, small-class learning.
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HDCH, founded in 1956, is imaginative, innovative & interwoven with our essential Biblical identity. Our programs are designed to challenge a wide range of learners. We welcome local and international students!
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BCA is Burlington’s leading Christian Elementary school, with over 150 students in Grades JK - 8. Featuring small class sizes and Signature Programming in the athletics, performing arts, and experiential learning.
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Teaching Children with ASD
The practice of teachers differentiating lesson plans and providing a variety of instructional strategies tailored to the unique needs of the individuals in their classroom is well established in 21st century classrooms. When a student has an identified learning difficulty or diagnosis with a neurological disorder, it is important to continue to view that child as an individual and not label them because of their identification. This is especially important when teaching children with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) since all children with ASD have a unique way that the disorder presents itself.
The term ASD is currently used as an umbrella term, encompassing the entire spectrum of disorders including autism, Asperger's Syndrome and PDD (Pervasive Developmental Disorder). Due to the many shared characteristics of these disorders, it is expected that the American Psychiatric Society will update their current definitions of these disorders to fall under the spectrum diagnosis of ASD with the modifiers mild, moderate or severe to classify the presentation of the disorder in each individual.
How is ASD Defined?
ASD is characterized by a combination of significant delays in three specific areas of development: communication, social interaction and behaviour. Children with ASD typically present with delays in all three of these areas, but one area of development may be significantly more delayed than the other two. It is important to note that each child with ASD presents very unique combinations of the typical characteristics. This can make teaching them challenging, since strategies that work for one will not work for another. Therefore, all the more reason to consider each child individually and differentiate learning to accommodate their unique needs.
Currently, children need to display 50 percent or more of the symptoms or characteristics listed in each of the three categories to be diagnosed with autism. Asperger's Syndrome is typically more common than autism, and does not usually present with the same language based delays as autism. Children with Asperger's are more likely to have difficulty with social interactions, social cues and moderating their own behaviour. A more detailed listing of specific symptoms and early warning signs can be found at the following websites:
- MayoClinicreferencedocumentfor"Autism"
- MayoClinicreferencedocumentfor"Asperger'ssyndrome"
- AutismWeb-descriptionsofASDsandstrategiesforparentsandteachers
The responsibility of teachers who have the challenge of individualizing education for children with ASD is primarily to learn as much as they can about that child's unique strengths and weaknesses, as well as to research a variety of strategies that are usually successful in teaching students with ASD. They then build a repertoire of resources to call upon when the current strategy stops producing results.
Key strategies for teachers with students on any part of the ASD spectrum, include (but are not limited to!) the following:
- Provide a highly structured environment with predictable routines;
- Post schedules, using graphic representations and colour coding as much as possible;
- Model appropriate behaviour and ask students to copy modelled language;
- Model appropriate social interactions;
- Integrate students with ASD into whole-class and small-group activities as much as possible to expose them to "normal" social interactions and behaviours;
- Work with parents and other support workers to develop consistent strategies.
Series: Trends in Education
- Five trends in private education
- Inquiry-based learning and the seven Cs with Kate Sharpe
- Rediscovering math
- Experiential Learning: How 'learning by doing' is making a comeback
- Homework wars: how much homework is enough?
- Ten reasons children should read comic books
- Project-based learning in schools
- The problem with discovery-based math
- Are technological devices stunting the learning curve?
- Guest post by Michael Zwaagstra: What's wrong with our schools
In the spotlight:
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Where learning takes root
The progressive Kindergarten program at Hudson College [Read more]
