How SEL Can Help Autistic Students Tackle Common Classroom Challenges
by
The education community has largely embraced the need for inclusive and supportive learning environments to help all children reach their potential. As diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) initiatives expand, we’ve seen schools broaden their definition of diversity to consider different races, cultures, gender identities, religions, abilities and much more.
Another cohort that is increasingly being recognized under this DEIB umbrella is neurodiverse kids, whose brains function differently from those of neurotypical kids. Among this group are kids with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which includes about 1 in 36 children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Autistic kids often need extra support in understanding and navigating social interactions.
That’s where SEL can help. One of the most promising developments for today’s students is the implementation of social-emotional learning (SEL) in the classroom. A vast amount of research shows that an SEL-based curriculum brings positive outcomes for all students. SEL can be especially helpful when working with autistic students to strengthen their interpersonal skills and build independence.
April brings National Autism Acceptance Month, making now an opportune time to think about how educators can use SEL to help all students — including autistic children — cultivate crucial life skills
Autistic Students Face Challenges in Traditional Educational Settings
The traditional classroom setting wasn’t designed for autistic students. That misalignment can hinder their academic success and overall well-being. Here are three areas educators can address:
- Environmental factors: A bright and busy classroom environment can cause sensory overload. This can be managed by dimming lights, providing ample room so children can move around without crowding, and maintaining lower noise levels or offering headphones for those more likely to be affected by classroom noise.
- Schedule uncertainty: Difficulty with transitions and unexpected changes can make it daunting for autistic children to adapt to new social situations or environments, leading to anxiety and withdrawal from social interaction. Educators can allow more room for voice and choice, post schedule outlines to give students a visual structure for their day, and cue schedule changes or transition periods well in advance to reduce anxiety and help build independence.
- Peer interactions: Autistic children often struggle to read social cues, which can make developing friendships and managing relationships with their peers difficult. Educators can factor this into classroom activities by providing autistic students ample opportunities to practice social skills and helping all students understand how to recognize and adapt to individual needs for positive social interactions in a psychologically safe space.
Using SEL To Build Skills
SEL can holistically address the needs of autistic students by helping them (and their peers) practice core proficiencies as part of their routine school day. Here are five capabilities that autistic children, in particular, may struggle with, and SEL-related exercises that address them.
Challenge: Peer interaction
SEL intervention: Modify seating charts often so children can interact with many of their peers. When conducting group activities, structure the groups thoughtfully to avoid situations where the same kids buddy up and others are routinely left out. Help autistic students prepare for this change by sticking to a regular schedule and reminding them often in the days leading up to the switch.
Challenge: Nonverbal communication
SEL intervention: Roleplay how to display nonverbal cues (happy/sad/annoyed, etc.) to help autistic students understand how they might react to someone with crossed arms or a glum face. Have students practice observing and interpreting others’ cues and appropriate responses.
Challenge: Emotional regulation
SEL intervention: A key component of mastering emotions is recognizing the wide range of feelings you may have and how they manifest. Educators can work with autistic students to create a mood chart that names and visualizes different emotions and gives words to describe them. For example, when you’re angry you might feel a “tightening in your chest,” and when you’re anxious you might feel “butterflies in your stomach.”
Challenge: Pro-social behavior
SEL intervention: Impulse control can be challenging for all young kids — and especially those who are autistic. Review and discuss socially appropriate actions as a group and share social stories that explore why it’s important to display cooperative behaviors, like waiting your turn or sharing. Connect these habits to activities that require partnership and collaboration as a way to create opportunities for autistic students to build positive relationships with their peers.
Challenge: Managing distractions
SEL intervention: Emphasize the role of focus in setting short-term goals and how those small accomplishments add up to longer-term achievements. Set a timer for a manageable period, like 15 minutes (though the time will likely vary by student), to practice concentrating and staying on task. Then, offer a short break with a reward, such as time for physical movement (e.g., taking a walk) or to decompress (e.g., watching a video on a tablet), before moving on to the next task.
Supporting safe stimming can also help students stay focused and on task in the classroom. Stimming — self-stimulation behavior that often involves repetitive actions — is common among autistic and non-autistic children, but it can be particularly helpful for the former group in managing and/or relieving their feelings and emotions, such as anxiety, frustration, sensory overload and physical discomfort. While some stimming actions can be disruptive, educators can support the ones that don’t disrupt the class or help students find safer alternatives.
Deploy SEL Principles To Strengthen Social Competence for Autistic Students
Addressing adversities autistic children face in the classroom requires a shift toward more inclusive and accommodating educational practices that prioritize understanding and acceptance. Because SEL emphasizes understanding and managing emotions to establish and maintain positive relationships, these practices can help autistic students — and all learners — develop essential life skills that help them thrive academically and socially.
For related resources on autism, visit Pearson’s Resource Center.