Tips for Parents & Teachers on how to Teach Autistic Children

By: Vanessa Blanchard

---

Autistic kids are passionate and talented, but their learning styles are usually different than their peers.

Is Autism a Learning Disability?

No.  It can come with a variety of co-occurring learning disabilities (LD), but autism itself is not one.  Common LDs include dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia.  A lot of autistic kids are also ADHD, which will increase the chance of LDs occurring.

There’s a common myth that being “intelligent” means you can’t have a learning disability.  Beware of this idea.  The concept of intelligence is tied to ableism and eugenics, and autistic folks deal with a lot of fallout from that.  Those perceived to be smart can’t get support and those thought to be intellectually disabled are dehumanized. 

How to stop fidgeting

Don’t.  Fidgeting is stimming and it’s an important part of autistic self-regulation.  Allowing kids to fidget can improve their ability to focus overall.

You might find your child has a kinesthetic learning style, meaning they learn better by acting rather than listening.  This might make traditional learning environments challenging, because they require you to sit still to show you’re paying attention.

Being in motion or performing a task improves our ability to process information. 

What to do

• Identify your kid’s learning style and any LDs they might have and develop an education plan that meets their needs.

• Be prepared for some schools to be unwilling or ill-equipped to help you with this.  Advocate for your children and be willing to switch to a new school if necessary.

What not to do

• Don’t assume that traditional learning is the only way to learn. 

• Don’t force your kids to stop doing things that help them learn or process information.

About the writer

I’m a writer, artist, and advocate who loves living in Maine among the trees and oceanside villages.  I’m also autistic, ADHD, and PTSD.  My education, both academic and personal, has centered around mental health and neurodevelopmental disabilities, as well as discrimination and the socioeconomic consequences of living disabled in America.  I work to plant seeds and spread ideas through my writing.  You can find me on Twitter @ladysnessa.

Back to what not to do with an autistic child.