Supporting Autistic Students To Learn Non-Academic Skills In General Education Settings

Autistic students are exposed to multiple levels of social interaction with peers and adults, in a general education setting. In most cases it is expected the student follows the “unspoken rules” of social interaction and classroom etiquette, which can be very challenging and confusing for most autistic students. When working with others they will also be (indirectly) exposed to many executive functioning skills, such as planning and organizing in project work, task initiation and time management in assessments/tests, which they may also struggle with. And to top it all off, they are using/learning self-regulation and self-management skills when navigating all of the above within a sensory stimulating environment.

By incorporating universal design in the lesson activities, for example with graphic organizers or planners, educators can teach simple structured ways to gain these executive skills. Social skills could be organically learnt with role based work in a group, where students can take a role based on their interests, strengths and capabilities.

Autistic students often spend more time managing themselves than learning academics, and one thing I see that is overlooked (although it is starting to have a moment) in school settings is giving them the opportunity to practice and learn skills to support their self-regulation, to calm the nervous system and the brain. It is simple neuroscience, that when the brain and body is anxious, scared, and stressed, it is not in a position to ‘learn’. The part of the brain that is used for learning  - the prefrontal cortex - is not activated, and so no matter how hard you may work with a student to teach them both academic or non-academic skills, if they are not in a calm regulated state, they will not learn.

Multiple studies have shown that when students are given simple breathing or movement breaks, to regulate themselves without the need for intervention, they can have much better success at learning.  

Rows of multi-coloured school lockers