Write an article based on this "Assume that all children are competent. Recognize how autistic body language can be different. Speak in clear, precise language. Avoid long verbal commands or lectures. Communicate with the child using functional aids if necessary. Use closed captions on a television."
All autistic children are capable of learning. They simply need to find a strategy for proper information absorption. If an autistic child is not learning, it is not because they cannot learn, but because there is some barrier. Too much noise in the environment, an untreated anxiety disorder, or bullying are examples of issues that can impede learning. Limited communication skills may also prevent them from demonstrating what they know. Learn to accept that autistic children may always have differences, and should not be evaluated on the same basis as their neurotypical classmates. Autistic children should be evaluated in relation to their own growth and learning over time Understand that not all autistic children can use the same techniques that you use when teaching a certain subject. Some autistic kids may pick it up very quickly. Autistic kids may have uneven skill profiles. Make sure that the material is appropriate (including supplying more advanced material as needed). An autistic child isn't going to act like a non-autistic child, and that's okay. Many autistic differences are adaptive; the child acts this way for a reason. Instead of trying to teach them to suppress their natural body language and pretend to be non-autistic, accept their differences and focus on teaching skills that will be more helpful. Eye contact can be distracting or painful for autistic people. An autistic child may prefer to look at a different part of you or stare into space to help them listen better. Fidgeting is normal and helps with coping skills. Turning away is not a sign of rejection, but a sign of being overwhelmed. Movement disabilities may cause jerky, clumsy, or overly forceful movements. Facial expressions may look distant, odd, or exaggerated. This usually isn't on purpose. Autistic children may need extra processing time and thus respond more slowly. Some autistic children may struggle with sarcasm, idioms, puns, and jokes. When talking to them, be as precise and specific as possible. Say what you mean when you want them to do something. For example, instead of telling them "Perhaps you should go back to the drawing board," say, "I want you to try this activity again." These can be confusing, as autistic children often have trouble processing sequences, particularly spoken ones. Give them extra time to process what you say as some autistic children have problems processing what they hear. If the child can read, write down the instructions. If the child is still learning, written instructions with pictures might help. Give instructions in small steps, and use short sentences whenever possible. Some autistic children learn to communicate via sign language, pictures, or a voice output device. If the child uses any of these to communicate, learn the system so that you can effectively use it. For example, you may need to print out different pictures of food. At snack time, have the child point to what they want. Autistic children sometimes struggle to process spoken words (especially from recordings due to odd acoustics), so seeing written words can help them understood what is being said. This can help both those who can and cannot yet read. Children who cannot read yet will associate printed words with spoken words. Children who can read may benefit from being able to see the words as well as hear them. If a child has a favorite television show, record the show with the closed captions and incorporate the show as part of the reading lesson.