Curricular+Modifications

Ways to meet the needs of a specific child:


 * Follow the student’s Individual Education Plan. These plans are created to prioritize their needs and focus on certain aspects of the student’s development, both academically and socially.


 * Find ways of incorporating the student’s specific interests into the topics you intend to cover. One way of making planning easier is to have the student complete interest surveys in the beginning of the year.


 * Provide warning of any changes to routines where possible and use visual or written instructions rather than verbal. For example, I have witnessed autistic students having notes taped to their desk. Some notes say “(name) must keep silent during reading time.”


 * Some students with autism find handwriting stressful and difficult. Plan to use word-processing technology often. Students can be assigned a seat at a computer during Writer’s Workshop. Then everyday, they know that they go to that computer, open up their folder, and begin writing.


 * Organize lessons so that the student gets opportunities to work in small groups with the teacher, or one on one with an aide. Assign tasks and activities to be completed in groups. This way the student can benefit from peer tutoring.


 * When assessing student progress, assess quality rather than quantity. Compare the student with their own pprogress, instead of the grade level.


 * Attempt to reduce the amount and complexity of materials and text to aid the student. Excess materials may side track the student and make the task at hand seem more complicated to the student.