I have a child that is mildly autistic and I need some tips on how to work with him in a positive way?

Question

We are trying to get him ready for school but having trouble getting him to respond to the teacher. He gets a little out of hand and we are not sure where to go with him. We need help so that way he can go to school with the other kids his age.

Answer 1

Kids mildly on the autistic spectrum usually do better being 1 yr older than their peers due to their immaturity, and social/communication delays. I have a 7 yr. old finishing up kindergarten, we retained him last year.  My son is in a TAM classroom-full-inclusion, 2 teachers, 1 special ed, the other reg. ed.  The ABA (applied behavioral analysis) therapy is frequently used in LFA (lower functioning autism) in a self-contained classroom, or special school.  It is usually done with the food reinforcers like someone else suggested.  This is only 1 stragtegy that may or may not be effective for your son.  Many strategies should be implemented.  My son has preferential seating, visual cues posted at his desk and locker, he is pretaught material, the reading is multisensory (Orton-Gillingham), he has a break card, he has a point card if he is on task for 8 minutes he gets a puzzle piece, after he receives 4 he can cash in for a preferred activity, he has a corrale around his desk, his core work is completed in the am, he has a slantboard, highlighted paper, a weighted pencil and a grotto pencil grip, he scribes and completes some work on the computer, he sits on a core disc, his reading and math are 1:1 and I am sure I am forgetting a few.  Can you maybe have a different teacher?  Is the teacher warm and fuzzy (my 2 do better with that)? Transitions are never easy for spectrum kids, my son takes 2 months before he is adjusted.  My middle son, they have begun preparing him for next years teacher.  She spends time with him each day to help him be acclimated for next school year.

Answer 2

the best idea i have to get him to respond to the teacher would be to make a visual schedule. I have seen these become a huge help specifically if they are interactive. For example Velcro pieces to a board for each activity and part of his day ad allow him to remove it when that is complete. The best suggestion i have is positive reinforcement. I would try using a chip board and being very positive for every good behavior that he exhibits move a chip up (to set up put to rows of Velcro on some type of paper or board and make pieces that are also velcro) when he gets all the chips up reward him with some form of a treat for example chips candy or play time. (anything he enjoys and will wnat to work for) being very positive and making it an interactive rewards system would be a big help. It will help keep him on track.

Answer 3

I am a Sp.Ed teacher and have worked with individuals on the autism spectrum for the past 4 years. Regarding him "responding" to his teacher, that is up to him or her to figure out, not you the parent. Is he fully included or is he in a sub-seperate classroom? How old is your son?

Regarding his trouble getting ready for school- does he have an understanding of his schedule? Maybe start a visual schedule for him, using simple language or pictures. As he finishes what ever he needs to be do (brush teeth, comb hair, eat break fast, pack school bag etc.) you take them off of the schedule. Praise him for the positive things he is doing and instead of always saying "no" to his off-target behavior, tell/show him what target behavior he needs to do.

Answer 4

Try this.

http://www.snowdrop.cc/info2.cfm?info_id...

and this

http://www.lulu.com/content/1225081

Hope this helps.

Answer 5

give him enough care, love and tell him stories, jokes and play, go out with him ask him to meet friends neighbour!

Answer 6

Give him a reinforcer something to work for food toy whatever he really loves. Have him only get this item when he is working not at free time.

  

Then make  a sticker chart and after he recieves a certain amount of stickers he can have the item

Answer 7

If you are in the US - contact your school district and have him evaluated he may be able to qualify for services now - at some ages they come to your home  - there are typically support groups and they can begin programing and training that will help him in school.  Do not delay - this is not something that you can do alone.

Answer 8

Try a search for: Working with autistic children.

There seems to be lots of information available.