READY
READY is Heathermount’s holistic approach to supporting students on the autistic spectrum.
Regulating and understanding emotional/sensory needs
Many individuals with autism have reduced self-awareness. This means that they may not understand/recognise the physiological changes in their body. This could result in students not recognising:
- They are hot or cold
- Their feelings
- They are not feeling well
Environment
Many individuals with autism have difficulty with processing information. When an environment is cluttered this reduces their ability to process information. Individuals with autism need structure, predictability, organisation and routine.
Classroom structure includes:
TEACCH - This enables the students to see what is required of them in each session. Staff will present the work by answering four questions:
- What work?
- How much work?
- When am I finished?
- What is next?
How this information is presented can be differentiated dependent on the student’s level. For example, TEACCH drawers, task sheets, Classroom structure book, displayed on interactive smartboard, hanging file, clearly defined areas and flipchart. The environment is also kept clutter-free with extraneous items put away.
- Timetables
- Teaching areas
- Labelled drawers and cupboards
- Visual support
- Planners
Autism - mine & others
The area of relatedness refers to how we support students in understanding others, their relationship to others, understanding events and their relatedness to events. We do this by:
- Call students’ names to gain attention
- Use one voice to prevent distraction
- Communication strategies
- Communication sessions
Developing social communication
The area of relatedness refers to how we support students in understanding others, their relationship to others, understanding events and their relatedness to events. We do this by:
- Call students’ names to gain attention
- Use one voice to prevent distraction
- Communication strategies
- Communication sessions
Many of the students struggle to understand the impact of their autism on themselves and others.
This includes:
- Lack of theory of mind
- How their behaviour affects others
- How to recognise, use, understand and generalise strategies
Your well-being & Independence
Many individuals with autism have reduced self-esteem and confidence.
This is supported by:
- Celebrating success
- Promoting self-belief
- Taking pride in work
- Building confidence