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Overview of Needs

Social understanding – differences in understanding social behaviour and the feelings of others, which informs the development of friendships and relationships.

Interests and Information Processing – Differences in perception, planning, understanding concepts, generalising, predicting, managing transitions, passions for interests and ability to absorb auditory or spoken information.

Sensory processing – Hypo (low) sensitivity, Hyper (high) sensitivity which can affect all 5 senses, and proprioception which can lead to lack of understanding of personal space, or the overwhelming need for personal space.

Communication and interaction – can be SLCN as per the previous slide, or range from highly articulate (which can mask a deeper misunderstanding) to non-verbal.

What you might notice

  • Problems with recognising understanding the feelings of others and managing their own feelings.
  • Difficulty forming friendships.
  • Difficulties with non-verbal communication eg eye contact, facial expressions, tone of voice.
  • Difficulty understanding inferred meanings of language eg idioms.
  • Issues with understanding or predicting other people’s intentions and behaviour.
  • Difficulty imagining situations outside of their own experience.
  • Inflexible thinking and behaviour due to difficulties with imagination.
  • Struggle to manage transitions and resistance to change.
  • Reactions to sensory stimuli that may seem out of proportion.

Strategies

  • Reduce unpredictability with very clear classroom routines.
  • Keep classrooms clear of clutter and keep noise to a minimum, including noise from open windows, speakers left on but not in use, etc.
  • Try to use visual stimuli for instructions, routines and give advance warning about changes in routine.
  • Speak clearly and break down instructions or processes.
  • Avoid sarcasm or metaphorical language eg idioms.
  • Use pupil names when speaking to them.
  • Be very specific with success criteria, even for straightforward tasks eg “I would like you to think of 3 reasons and write them on your whiteboard.”
  • Create opportunities for peer interaction, but give clear roles and structures for the interaction.
  • Carefully scaffold tasks that require imagination or empathy

Resources Interventions and Activities

Communication Tools:

  • Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices like Proloquo2Go and TouchChat.
  • Speech-generating apps for nonverbal or minimally verbal children.

Behaviour and Social Skills Apps:
Social Stories Creator and Library: Customisable social stories to teach everyday routines and expectations.
Zones of Regulation: Helps children recognize and manage their emotions.

Sensory-Friendly Apps:

Sensory Room and Autism Apps for calming activities and educational games.

Interventions

Speech and Language Therapy (SLT):

Helps improve communication, including verbal and nonverbal skills.

Incorporates AAC devices for children with limited verbal ability.

Occupational Therapy (OT):
Targets sensory integration, motor skills, and activities of daily living.
Uses sensory play to address sensory processing challenges.
Social Skills Training:

Teaches skills like turn-taking, eye contact, and conversation through role-playing and guided practice.

Play Therapy:

Encourages self-expression and emotional processing through structured and free play.

Floortime (DIR Model):
Builds relationships and promotes emotional and social growth by following the child’s interests.

Classroom and Home Strategies

Visual Supports:

Use visual schedules, timers, and charts to provide structure and reduce anxiety.

Calm Corners:
Set up a sensory-friendly space with calming tools like weighted blankets or noise-cancelling headphones.

Task Breaks:
Provide frequent breaks and use movement-based activities to maintain focus.

Activities

Sensory Activities

Calming Sensory Play:

Sensory bins:
Fill with rice, sand, or beads to encourage exploration.

Water play:
Use water tables with toys or bubbles for a soothing activity.

Tactile Crafts:
Make slime, play dough, or kinetic sand to engage the sense of touch.

Movement Activities:
Set up obstacle courses or encourage jumping on a trampoline for vestibular input.
Social and Communication Activities

Social Stories:
Create or use pre-made stories to teach social concepts like sharing or handling emotions.

Peer Play Dates:
Arrange small, structured interactions with peers to practice social skills.

Board Games:
Use simple, turn-taking games like Candy Land or Guess Who?.
Creative Activities

Art Projects:
Provide paint, markers, or collage materials for self-expression.
Offer templates for children who thrive on structure.

Music Therapy:
Encourage singing, drumming, or listening to favourite songs for emotional expression.

Storytime with Props:
Use puppets or props to make stories interactive and engaging.
Academic Activities

Interactive Learning:
Use educational apps tailored for different subjects (e.g., ABCmouse, Starfall).
Incorporate hands-on manipulatives like puzzles or counting blocks.

Break Tasks into Steps:
Provide written or visual step-by-step instructions for assignments.

Practice Real-Life Skills:
Teach cooking, cleaning, or shopping through role-play and real-life practice.

Physical Activities

Yoga for Kids:
Adapt poses for a calming and focused exercise session.

Scavenger Hunts:
Use simple, themed scavenger hunts to build focus and movement.

Team Sports:
Explore activities like swimming or bowling that don’t require complex social interactions.