Planning Lessons for Students with Autism

     When planning programs for students with autism, your lessons should consider the strengths and weaknesses of the student. Therefore, an important strategy would be to make a classroom profile at the beginning of the year. Therefore, this will allow you to know the type of learning preferences, weaknesses, strengths, and other important information of all the students in your class. After, you should plan your lessons with this classroom profile and the planning should be individualized and focused on developing various skills (3). Furthermore, it is important to always observe how the students react to your lessons. You should note the students progress to transitions, learning environment, social language skills and progress to learning outcomes (3, 23). These reflections will be a good indicator for you on what to develop or expand more on next time.
    Another potential strategy would be talking to previous teachers who had the student. They've already had the experience teaching this student; therefore, they can inform you on what works and what doesn't work with the child and how they succeed best!

      Many students with ASD will have an IEP; therefore, it is important to make adaptations to instruction, classroom environment and classroom management related to the student's IEP (1). Their lessons can be based off curriculum along with helping to develop goals specific to the individual (Ex. communication and social skills) (1, 22).