Supporting students with autism spectrum disorder

Evidence-based strategies to help students with autism spectrum disorder

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Emailsnowyvalleys-s.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Visuals

Quite often, simple visuals are easy ways to get students to understand what behaviour is and is not appropriate.

Below is a collection of visuals to use in and outside of the classroom to help students understand behaviour. Each visual is available to download for further use.

Hit behaviour

Illustrated in this graphic is the cause and effect for when a student hits another individual. Here, it shows the action, the consequence (time out) and the emotion that comes with the consequence. In the second strip, it shows students what behaviour is more appropriate: using words, staying with other students and being happier in return for the change of behaviour. 

Download and view Hit behaviour strip (PPTX 84KB).

Hit behaviour
Image: Hit behaviour

In Behaviour lanyards, this visual can be used to show students—with colour coding and drawings of behaviours—changes in environment or emotion. For example, the red 'Stop' lanyard can be used to visually indicate when a student should stop an activity and change to another—a vital skill to instill in students with autism.

Download and view Behaviour visual lanyards (PPTX 90KB).

Behaviour visual lanyards
Image: Behaviour visual lanyards

When I'm...

With 'When I'm...', students identify emotions and see what behaviours are considered appropriate or inappropiate ways of expressing that emotion.

Download and view When I'm (PPTX 122KB).

When I'm....
Image: When I'm....

My behaviour

Using printable cards, students can go through how their behaviour was on a given day in multiple environments. 

Download and view My behaviour (PPTX 73KB).

My behaviour
Image: My behaviour

My tasks

The 'My tasks' worksheet helps students identify goals for each day and set forth a plan to achieve them. Throughout the day, how student behaviour reflects achieving that goal can be tracked through the 'smiling cat' and 'sad dog' sections.

Download and view My tasks (PPTX 99KB).

My tasks
Image: My tasks

Anger meter

For many people with autism, certain environments can make anger a very overwhleming emotion. With the 'Anger meter', students can better understand where their anger fits and how best to handle it.

Download and view Anger meter (DOCX 62KB).

Anger meter
Image: Anger meter

Behaviour strips

Similar to 'Hit behaviour', 'Behaviour strips' uses a several panels to show students how their behaviour affects themselves and others.

Download and view Behaviour strips (PPTX 840KB).

Behaviour strips
Image: Behaviour strips

Nervous giggling

Nervousness is a very common emotion for people with autism. Giggling is one way that students may express being nervous. 'Nervous giggling' gives students a visual representation of how to handle their giggling in a healthy/appropriate manner.

Download and view Nervous giggling (DOCX 61KB).

Nervous giggling
Image: Nervous giggling

Behaviours

'Behaviours' is a general visual representation for a variety of 'ok' and 'not ok' behaviours. 

Download and view Behaviours (DOCX 4.2MB).

Behaviours
Image: Behaviours

Related content

Supporting students with autism spectrum disorder

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