Practical Strategies For Supporting Emotional Regulation In Students With Autism

For professionals who work with students on the autism spectrum in inclusive classroom settings, supporting emotional regulation is key. This practical guide outlines cognitive and language strategies that support emotional regulation, which the authors have found successful with their students with autism, supported by research that shows why they work. The focus in this book is on the emotional state of the child as opposed to controlling behaviours. The guidelines and strategies provided help students with prediction and make the expectations of them clear, empowering children by giving them choices. Examples of how to use each strategy are given, alongside tips for application. The book also includes sample goals for regulation, information on therapy techniques that work and a 'cheat sheet' overview of the strategies, creating a clear and concise guide to engaging and enhancing learning in the classroom.

This easy-to-use resource is a compilation of theoretical background and concrete approaches designed to increase understanding and outline strategies to support autistic children and young people who experience anxiety in the school environment. This resource also has practical application for parents, carers and professionals across a range of educational and community-based settings. Using real life examples and case studies, the book explains and explores the different forms of anxiety and their impact across the school environment. Each chapter offers practical information and strategies that may help reduce the negative symptoms of anxiety and help support emotional resilience across home and school environments. Key features of this book include: Chapters aimed at enhancing the understanding of anxiety in autism, considering potential triggers of anxiety, discussion on cognitive theories, social communication and means of assessing anxiety. A wealth of downloadable anxiety management strategies and resources that can be adapted and used by a teacher, parent or other professional. This resource has been developed by the multidisciplinary team at Middletown Centre for Autism, and is a useful resource for the busy parent, teacher and other professionals who wish to provide individualised support strategies for anxiety across a range of settings.

"... a curriculum geared toward helping students gain skills in consciously regulating their actions, which in turn leads to increased control and problem solving abilities. Using a cognitive behavior approach, the curriculum's learning activities are designed to help students recognize when they are in different states called "zones," with each of four zones represented by a different color. In the activities, students also learn how to use strategies or tools to stay in a zone or move from one to another. Students explore calming techniques, cognitive strategies, and sensory supports so they will have a toolbox of methods to use to move between zones. To deepen students' understanding of how to self-regulate, the lessons set out to teach students these skills: how to read others' facial expressions and recognize a broader range of emotions, perspective about how others see and react to their behavior, insight into events that trigger their less regulated states, and when and how to use tools and problem solving skills. The curriculum's learning activities are presented in 18 lessons. To reinforce the concepts being taught, each lesson includes probing questions to discuss and instructions for one or more learning activities. Many lessons offer extension activities and ways to adapt the activity for individual student needs. The curriculum also includes worksheets, other handouts, and visuals to display and share. These can be photocopied from this book or printed from the accompanying CD."--Publisher's website.

Keeping children's bodies, minds and emotions on task just got easier with this new book from self-regulation expert Teresa Garland. Self-Regulation Interventions and Strategies features more than 200 practical and proven interventions, strategies and adaptations for helping children gain more control over their lives. Each chapter provides rich background and theoretical material to help the reader better understand the issues our children face. Topics include: Basic and advanced methods to calm a child and to preventing outbursts and melt-downsInterventions to help with attention problems, impulse control, distractibility and the ability to sit stillStories and video-modeling for autism, along with techniques to quell repetitive behaviorsSensory strategies for sensitivity and cravingBehavioral and sensory approaches to picky eatingWays to increase organization skills using technology and appsStrategies for managing strong emotions as well as techniques for releasing them

Expert author Elizabeth Ives Field combines over four decades of working in the autism field to provide functional, in-depth teaching strategies for children on the spectrum who struggle with communication. Incorporating descriptions of composite children at different developmental stages, this book sets out individual goals and therapy approaches for children who may have no speech, moderately functional speech or echolalia, as well as for highly verbal individuals who may not always use appropriate language. Covering a wide range of interventions that address communication and the related areas of independence and social behavior, the purpose of each goal is to make progress toward the child's maximum potential. This book sets out skills that are developmentally appropriate and that will be immediately useful to help children express themselves more effectively and build relationships with others.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder-5 describes Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as a type of neurodevelopmental disorder, which means there is atypical growth and development of the brain or central nervous system resulting in their abnormal functioning (APA, 2013). ASD is characterised by difficulties in two domains: (1) social communication and social interaction; and (2) restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests or activities. Based on the evidenced-based approach of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), Behaviour Zen and ASD aims to educate, empower and enable people supporting students with ASD. Practical strategies on how to design the environment, activity and instructions to facilitate positive changes will be provided. Use the comprehensive checklists and tools provided to develop PBS plans that can be used to support the student consistently in all settings. This invaluable resource is useful for teachers, parents, early childhood educators, support staff, and mental health, allied health and supervisory professionals who support students with ASD.

A practical, easy-to-read introduction to the ideas and strategies that can be implemented within the classroom to help autistic children achieve their full potential. With an introduction to autism and its key differences, insights from autistic individuals and case studies drawn from years of experience, this is the definitive resource for busy teachers supporting autistic children within a mainstream or specialist school environment. This book provides guidance on a variety of topics related to teaching autistic children in primary school, including adapting the curriculum, ensuring effective communication with staff and parents, fostering emotional regulation, as well as staff self-care. Each chapter includes easy-to-follow guides and resources, providing solutions, direction and support for teachers to help students on the autism spectrum to thrive.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder-5 describes Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as a type of neurodevelopmental disorder, which means there is atypical growth and development of the brain or central nervous system resulting in their abnormal functioning (APA, 2013). ASD is characterised by difficulties in two domains: (1) social communication and social interaction; and (2) restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests or activities.