INFORMED SOURCES
SAMPLE ISSUE - NOT LICENSED FOR USE
LISTENING TO CHILDREN ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM
To work out how to support children on the autism spectrum, we need to ask them
what they need.
The importance of this is being emphasized by a growing group of education researchers.
Pre-eminent autism researcher Professor Liz Pellicano says that research in this area must include
the voices of autistic children, young people, and adults and those of their families, as well as the
assistance of clinicians and educators.
The same holds true, she says, of school and caregiver support of autistic spectrum students;
including students’ perspectives helps find the best means of identifying the areas where support is
needed, and the best ways of providing it.
Dr Beth Saggers of Queensland University of Technology agrees, saying it’s important to “get their
opinion on what’s going to help them.” A former teacher and an expert on autism, she has undertaken
numerous research projects on the autism spectrum in education, and led AutismCRC’s Australian
Autism Educational Needs Analysis, a world first nation-wide report released in 2016 on the most
important steps to support students on the spectrum, including those attending mainstream schools.
This report surveyed educators, specialists, parents, and students on the autism spectrum.
This approach is in line with the views of groups of disabled people, including those on the spectrum,
who advocate for a voice in decisions that affect them, typified by the motto: “Nothing about us without
us”.
A key part of this is treating every student as an individual. However, common themes emerge from
the experiences of students on the spectrum. So, what are some of the insights their experiences
provide?
Students on the spectrum in studies led by Dr Saggers indicated some of the activities and aspects
of school life that pose the most difficulties for them, and some of the things that would be useful.
Coping with bullying or teasing
Students on the spectrum saw traditional bullying as a big obstacle to their inclusion, particularly
name-calling and insults. The risk of bullying was highest during unstructured time, such as lunch
breaks, sport events and transitions between activities. So it’s important to set up safe zones and
structured activities for any students who feel at risk.
Sometimes, students also had trouble telling the difference between teasing and attempts to build
friendships, making it harder to make friends; this highlights the value of explicitly teaching them how
to navigate social situations.
Managing workload and planning for assignments
This issue was commonly identified by students on the spectrum, indicating the importance of
providing them with support for planning, time management, and organisation skills. Indeed, students
suggested help with organising themselves would be especially helpful.
A structured but flexible and caring approach emerged as the most conducive to students feeling
comfortable in class and engaging academically. Some further measures students highly valued were
receiving rewards for jobs well done, incorporating special interests into projects, and receiving one
on one help from an adult.
