5 Ways to Support Learners with Autism

blog for World Autism Awareness Week by LGfL’s SEND advisor, John Galloway, and LGfL’s SEND consultant, Jo Dilworth

Autism, sometimes known as ASD or ASC, affects how people experience and perceive the world as well as their relationships with those around them. It is lifelong and those with autism are part of a spectrum, so their experience of life and their autism is unique to each of them.

5 Ways to Support Autism at LGfL:

1. Look Think Do was created with and for many primary learners with autism who struggle with social communication skills. This resource includes editable photo and symbol based stories and skills sequences to support areas within Play, Say, Change and Helping Yourself.
2. Thinking Skills for Life and Employability can provide social and other support for older learners as they prepare for adulthood, with topics including job finding, relationships and handling money.
3. SEN Assist Fairytales and Early Shakespeare are familiar interactive, multisensory stories with online and offline activities which have been created specifically for learners with autism. They include motivators, are differentiated and incorporate specialist strategies.
4. Widgit symbols are well-recognised for the support they provide in reading and scaffolding learning activities. Over 15,000 symbols can be downloaded for you to use in your own resources, with more than 1,000 ready-made activity sheets also available covering many areas of the curriculum, along with prompts and resources for supporting communication.
5. Busy Things includes a range of activities and games to support all curriculum subjects for all key stages in primary schools. The engaging design of the materials motivates learners and encourages them to engage, including older learners working at lower levels.

There are many other resources to support learners with AUTISM. Go to www.send.lgfl.net to find even more.

Autism links

https://www.autism.org.uk  – The National Autistic Society is a British charity for people with autistic spectrum disorders, including autism and Asperger syndrome. The purpose of the organisation is to improve the lives of people with autism in the United Kingdom.

http://www.autismeducationtrust.org.uk  – The Autism Education Trust (AET) believes that all children and young people with autism* must receive an education which enables them to reach their individual potential to engage in society as active citizens (and that individuals, families and professionals are informed, supported and equipped to enable this to be achieved).

https://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk  – Ambitious about Autism is the national charity for children and young people with autism. We provide services, raise awareness and understanding, and campaign for change.