Inclusion programs UAE believe that schools must make appropriate settings to take care of the special needs of each child. Inclusion is a term that means to admit children having autism in a public school. This educational concept is a source of conflict for both parents and teachers.
Inclusion Strategies For Students With Autism:
Major benefits of inclusion for students with autism include creating respectful relations in class and breaking the stigma around autism. Following are the strategies that can be helpful for teachers to support students having autism in a full inclusion setting:
- Use Visual Schedules And Supports To Build Independence
- Use a Reward System To Promote Positive Behaviors
- Prepare For Overstimulation, Stress, Or Possible Meltdowns
- Teach Transitions And Waiting Strategies
- Create Accommodations For Stimming Behaviour And Movement.
Visual Schedules And Supports To Build Independence:
Most teachers use visual support in their classrooms to help children learn and understand things better.
Visual Schedules:
There are various types of visual schedules that are helpful for students on the autism spectrum. Visual schedules can help students decrease confusion, support independence, and manage anxiety by making students ready for transitions and encouraging on-task behaviors. Some examples of visual schedules are:
- Write a schedule on the board or give individual checklists to students that they check off tasks as they complete them.
- You can use the Do/Done chart to help students keep track of their schedules. As a student completes a task, they can move the picture from the Do side to the done side.
Reward System To Promote Positive Behaviors:
Some examples of the reward system are as follow:
- Promoting On-Task Behaviour Using First/Then:
It is a very common positive reinforcement strategy developed. You can get a student to do an unpreferred activity if you mix it up with their favorite activity. You can do it verbally and with a First/Then chart.
- Token Economy:
It is a strategy that can be used to increase any desirable behavior.It is far more effective than discipline exercises. In this strategy, you give a student a token for any desired behavior he does as an appreciation they can later exchange for an object they desire. For effectiveness, the task should be attainable.
Prepare For Over-Stimulation, Stress, Or Possible Meltdowns:
It is a must-do strategy for the successful inclusion of autistic children. During this time, the staff and students feel pressure, and it is hard to handle without any plan. For the plan to be successful, you need to prepare a calming routine. There are several strategies you can use for your calming plan:
- Offer a Calming Area Or Items
- Making a Fist And Squeezing
- Pushing Against Wall
Accommodations For Stimming Behaviour And Movement:
Movements like hand flapping, jumping, or making noises are activities your students use to help them calm down, often known as stimming. To help with stimming, you can also provide discreet movement opportunities.
Final Words:
The benefits of inclusion programs UAE for children with disabilities are friendship skills, problem-solving skills, positive self-image, and respect for others. This can trickle down to their families, teaching parents and families to be more accepting. Since parents are a child’s first teachers and know them best, it is important to have good communication.