Individual work systems
Work systems are an integral aspect of differentiating instruction to include students with autism as they communicate what is expected for an assignment, and help them to orga- nize themselves and complete their tasks. The most effective work systems present informa- tion visually and communicate: 1) what to do, 2) how much they are expected to do, 3) how to know when the task is finished, and 4) what to do when the work is finished. For higher functioning students, a work system could be a simple visual sequence that corresponds with the work the other students are doing. For students who are just beginning to work independently, putting an assignment in a shoebox with sequenced cards can help the stu-
dent practice initiating the assignment and completing the entire task. The shoebox also signifies when the assignment is finished by closing the lid and putting the box back where it belongs.