For years we’ve known that if we expect a lot of children, that they do what we’d like. You know, if we tell them they’re a failure then they act like a failure. If we tell them, “We expect great things,” that we think they are so smart, they’re going to do wonderful things, they will do well.
We haven’t really considered what that’s like for children with disabilities, and some recent studies have come out where it’s so important that the child with autism feels like they are able, that they are empowered, that they have the power over their own mind, say to even change from being mad to being calm.
You know, many children with autism don’t even think they have that power. They’re waiting for someone else to calm them down, instead of internally being able to calm them down.
So as teachers — and parents — I think it’s vital that we instill that in children with autism, that we think they can achieve, that we’re proud of them and their achievements. So I always tell parents and teachers alike that you never say anything in front of a child with autism unless it’s positive.
Now, you can describe what happened very easily. I can take a teacher and say, you know, “Johnny and I worked together very hard on reading this story today, and it was difficult for Johnny to realize what the pronouns were, but you know, before we were done, he did it.” Then I just told the teacher what we did and made that connection, but I did it in a positive way.
And I think as teachers we all need to focus — and as parents — on talking about our children in positive ways. That doesn’t mean you give them a reward for every single one, it means you recognize what you really enjoy about that child — and there is no child that you can’t find things to enjoy in.
