Environmental:
Keep to a schedule: Students with autism like routine and knowing what is going to come next as they have difficulty making sense of new things and this can lead to anxiety. A routine gives a sense of order and having time to process how to respond.
Use visuals: Students with autism are often visual learners and think in pictures. Processing language and communicating can be difficult. Pictures give non-verbal students a way to communicate needs.
Prepare for changes: Students with autism struggle with the unexpected, and this is why schedules are important. However, in school and life sometimes routines are changed and it is important to prepare a student with autism for a known change so that they can mentally prepare themselves.
Surround the student with calming peers and staff: School and school functions can be exciting but also bring stress and anxiety to someone with autism because of the possibility of the unexpected. Making sure the student is paired with understanding and calming people can help support them in these situations
Safe Space in the Classroom: Provide a safe place. This can be a calming room or corner, and/or objects or activities that help to calm (e.g. toys they like, bean bag or weighted blanket). This can also be flexible seating and/or works spaces.
Lighting: Use natural light as much as possible, blinds, and lamps.
Noise: Low volume talking, music, or white noise.
Smells: Keep strong smells out of the class. Make sure there is lots of air flow and that things are clean.
References:
ABC Therapy Clinics. (2022). Creating a Cool Down Room. Retrieved from:
Autism Association of Western Australia. (2018). How to Adjust the Curriculum for a Student with Autism. Retrieved from: https://juiceboxcreative-autismwa.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/03160413/2.-Curriculum-Adjustments.pdf (Aug. 2022).
Autism Speaks. (2018). Adapting Your Environment. Retrieved from:
https://www.autismspeaks.org/tool-kit-excerpt/adapting-your-environment (Aug. 2022).
Griswold, Ann.. (2016). Spectrum News: Uncertainty Drives Anxiety, Sensory Issues in Autism. Retrieved from:
https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/uncertainty-drives-anxiety-sensory-issues-in-autism/ (Aug. 2022)