Autism is a disorder of the brain that is biological
in function. It causes anywhere from mild to severe social
impairment and an inability to function normally in society.
However, there are ways to treat many of the cases of autism.
Autistic children can learn and excel and if certain teaching
methods are used, their progress can be nothing short of fantastic.
One of the most important things to realize in making learning fun
for autistic children is the fact that they learn in different ways
than children without autism.
Autistic children generally have a disability in
social skills. Sometimes this difficulty in communication involves
language skills. However, there are a number of ways to make
learning these important skills more than just a chore. By injecting
fun into learning, it has been shown that autistic children learn at
a faster pace. Actually, fun and learning work well for all types of
children, but autistic children are special and require more
tailored methods.
Children with autism seem to learn best when the instructional
material is presented in visual form. In this case it might be
worthwhile to try different educational programs via a computer.
Using a computer is a fun way to learn. The majority of educational
programs are highly visual. Many of the games available involve
storylines, plots, and realistic human behaviors. Some of the skills
autistic children can learn from carefully selected video games are
language skills, reading and math skills, and social skills. Visual
learning devices are highly effective and can be accompanied by
various rewards to reinforce what is being learned. For instance,
food and extended leisure activities can be used as rewards that
will encourage the child to want to learn. In addition, the use of
positive reinforcement will help develop a bond between student and
teacher, and create a sense of trust that will help strengthen the
learning environment.
Social stories are another way to make learning fun for children
with autism. Since one of the aspects of autism is the inability to
interact normally in a social situation, social stories can be
utilized in a variety of different ways in order to model
appropriate behavior. Autism education pioneer Carol Gray developed
this approach in 1991. By using engaging stories, children with
autism can learn appropriate and inappropriate responses to
situations. The level of fun, of course, is up to the way social
stories are used. Usually, the stories are tailored to the child. By
modeling situations familiar to an autistic child, they can be
better prepared to react in a socially appropriate to those same
situations in the future. Social stories usually have three distinct
ways of addressing a particular situation. The first describes who,
what, where and why in relation to the situation. The second is a
perspective sentence that illuminates how others react to the
situation being discussed. Finally, the third sentence tries to
model an appropriate response. Sometimes the use of social stories
can be accompanied by music and pictures. In terms of making the
process a bit more fun rewards can be used when a situation is
properly addressed.
Children with autism require special education needs to address
their social difficulties. It is really important to make these
activities as much fun as possible so the student will stay
motivated. It is not easy for an autistic child to change his or her
response to various situations, so it is imperative that the
activities be non-threatening and highly interesting. It has been
demonstrated that over time the use of visual aids and social
stories are two of the most effective ways to help autistic children
overcome social situations they feel are threatening. To most of us,
these situations are normal, everyday occurrences, but to children
with autism they can sometimes be terrifying moments that they do
not have the skills to deal with. These teaching methods, while
entertaining and fun, can help children adapt and manage their
perceptions of social interactions.
There are many more resources and information about diagnosing,
controlling and treating Autism in, The Essential Guide To Autism.
Recent studies have shown that there is
currently a worldwide autism epidemic. In fact, more than 1.5
million people are affected in the United States alone, with one in
every 250 children diagnosed.
It's true that early detection and early treatment are the two key
factors in improving prognosis -- but too often parents get bogged
down in denial or confusion about this still mysterious disorder,
and are unable or unwilling to take the necessary steps.
The Essential Guide to Autism contains advice and information that
will help you make the right treatment decisions for your child.
Today, many youngsters can be helped to attend school alongside
their peers. Some programs are demonstrating that with appropriate
support, many people with autism can be trained to do meaningful
work and participate fully in community life.
All of the materials on this site have been included for the purpose of
providing general information, and they should not be relied on as a
substitution for professional advice.
