Many autistic children are diagnosed after they first enter the school system. While it poses its own challenges, the early years are when autistic children have a chance to be molded into socially acceptable or useful behavioral patterns, learn about social cues and even, in some cases, be helped up the autistic spectrum. Many such children benefit by having their special interests or skills being honed during their early years, which makes them more secure and more amenable to conforming to other social expectations and behavioral patterns. Teachers have a very different set of challenges when handling autistic children in the classroom and it can be confusing for those new to this role.

Tips for handling children with autism:

Be prepared to be patient.
Learn the student’s routines, their sensory triggers, their preferences and strengths. It can help to ask the child and the child’s parents in advance for this information.
Avoid sensory overload in the classroom, whether it be lighting, too many objects, colors, sounds, or even smells.
Be aware that each student is different and may be at a different position on the autistic spectrum.
Be aware that meltdowns are because the child is often unable to express him/herself and or is unable to understand or control the surrounding stimuli or change.
Change is difficult to handle for autistic students. Ensure a steady routine. If there is a change, ensure the student is intimated and prepared in advance.
Expect repetitive behavior, rocking, tapping or spinning.
Be very literal, very specific, very consistent in communication.
Explain basic social requirements in simple, practical terms.
Repeat instructions with patience, consistency and clearwords till the process is grasped in due time.
Using key words may help indicate when there is to be a change in a specific activity.
Use visual cue cards, where possible, in addition to text and oral teaching.