Encourage independent effort and incorporate proactive measures to
reduce the likelihood of becoming dependent on prompts
When students with autism are constantly supported, they may never
develop the capacity to act independently. Since independence is a
desired goal for all students, instruction should include strategies to
decrease the need for adult prompting. Strategies include:
• using visual aids to decrease reliance on physical and verbal
prompts from the parent, teacher, or teacher assistant
• planning ways to fade prompts
• ensure that the adult is not always positioned close to the
student and that the same adults are not always present;
positioning the adult away from the student and
changing teacher assistants may help to avoid
dependency
• providing visual organizational aids, such as
schedules, task outlines, check lists, and
charts, and involving the student in
developing and using them, if feasible
• providing instruction to increase the
student’s awareness of environmental cues
• teaching in the environments containing
the cues and reinforcement that prompt
and maintain the behaviour
See the appendix for a chart explaining the
hierarchy of prompts from high to low in level
of intrusiveness.Direct and broaden fixations into useful activities
If the student is fixated on an object or a topic, such as a colour or
shape, use it to teach a concept. A whole week’s learning activities in
writing and math can be centred on one topic—this is creative themebased
learning activities taken to the extreme.
Know the individual, and maintain a list of strengths and interests
Family members can provide valuable information for teachers about
what students know and do at home or in the community. These
interests and skills can be built upon both for instruction and for
reinforcing successful learning and behaviour.
Develop talent and interest areas
If the student demonstrates a particular interest and strength in a
specific area (e.g., music, drama, art, graphics, computer), provide
opportunities to develop further expertise in that area. This may not
only provide enjoyment and success, but may also lead to the
development of skills for future employment.