Lessons should be set up with areas for the student to communicate built into the lesson plan. There should be an AAC system available to assist in communication, with lesson-related functions programed in beforehand. This includes items related to the student's skills, interests, communication methods, and what they need to get out of the learning experience. Children with ASD tend to use multiple modes of communication, and any individual child might only use a few of the modes that other students use. Vocabulary used should include the full range of speech, such as nouns, verbs and adjectives, and should have phrases that promote communication with a partner.

Prepare the Learning Experience and AAC system for children with ASD

This is a scientifically based method of teaching students with ASD. It is effective in promoting social communication, and trainings to learn the strategy take 1-2 hours of instruction. 

POWR Teaching strategy for students with ASD

Preverbal children with ASD tend to show fewer gestures compared to children with typical development. They are less likely to use pointing gestures to direct attention to objects or areas of interest, though they are able to make requests using gestures. Older children continue to show difficulties with gesture, either with timing or rate of use. People with ASD tend to use fewer metaphoric and beat gestures compared to typical development people, though their rates of iconic, deictic, and emblem gestures tend to be similar across the two groups.

Gestures in ASD

Studnets with ASD that have limited speech can use an augmentative and alteernative communication system, or an AAC, to use signs, gestures, pictures, and speech-generating devices to communicate in an educational environment. Learning pads, ipads, and phones are all options of AAC systems.

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People with ASD tend to need different learning strategies to stay engaged, understand concepts and material, and have the oportunity to speak and share thoughts.

Strategies - 

POWR

Teaching strategies for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Verbal

Gestures

Pictures

Text

Drawing

Communication Styles

Douglas, S. & Gerde, H. (2019). A Strategy to Support the Communication of Students with Autism Spectrum disorder. Hammill Institude on Disabilities, 55(1). 32-38. doi.10.1177/1053451219833021

A Strategy to Support the Communication of Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Augmentative and Alternate Communication

Students need to have the opportunity to communicate through questions, comments, and picking choices. This allows the student with ASD to beocme an active participant in the activity and to improve their communication. Opportunities can come in the form of asking for the student to pick a choice between two or more activities, asking for a comment on the material, asking questions, or commenting on the material yourself. Peers can also engage the student with ASD by asking them questions, providing choices, or commenting themself.

Offer opportunities for communication

After offering the opportunity for communication, the teacher needs to wait for the response from the student with ASD. Generating a responce using an AAC takes more time than it would to give a verbal responce by a child with typical development. If the child is experienced with their device, wait at minimum 5 seconds for a response. If the child is not sppearing to create their responce after 5 seconds, regain the student's attention by offering another opportunity to communicate. If a student is new to their device or has inhibited motor abilities, longer than 5 seconds will be necessary. Peers should also be advised to wait for a responce from the student with ASD.

Wait for Communication

Responding increases the students' motivation to communicate during class and with the teacher, leading to better educational outcomes. Responding can be done by verbalizing the behavior of the student with ASD, expanding on communication that they started, seeking clarification, and extending communication. 

Respond to Communication

People use gestures to communicate information to other people, many times in addition to the words they are speaking. People with ASD have inhibited communication abilities, included their use of gestures. They could be delayed or non-existent in situations where a gesture would be helpful.

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