• Careful attention to aversive visual stimuli and attempts to
reduce the effect of these stimuli will assist managing the
student’s behaviour and help the student learn.
• Tactile:
• Are there textures that seem to be aversive?
• Are temperatures appropriate to minimize negative effect on the
student?
• Does the student demonstrate a need to explore through touch,
and yet avoid being touched?
• What is the level of ability or defensiveness in the use of certain
objects intended to support instruction?
• Vestibular:
• Consider the student’s need to move and exercise.
• What are the individual’s reactions to movement?
• How can the student’s program incorporate needed movement
without unduly jeopardizing the attention and learning of other
students in the class?
• Gustatory and olfactory:
• Consider the preferences in taste and smell of foods and other
materials.
• Decisions about activities should include consideration of the
student’s responses to the smell of materials.
• Teaching the appropriate behaviour for snack or mealtimes will
be affected by these preferences.
Note aspects of the tasks and activities that create frustration
Examine the instructional plan and non-instructional activities for
problem areas that may result in sensory overload or frustration for the
student. Make available sensory experiences that are calming for the
student to accompany potentially frustrating tasks. Whenever possible,
adapt tasks and materials to promote successful participation. When
feasible, decrease environmental distracters and reduce activities that
confuse, disorient, or upset the student and interfere with learning.