Environmental supports

Environmental supports

What kind of Environmental support is required for the students with Autism? How can we create them?

Environmental supports help organize students physical space in ways that facilitate there ability to predict events and activities, anticipate change, understand expectations, and, in general, make sense of the world.

Environmental supports include the use of

1. Labels: label the classroom with matching pictures / symbols. If you give the child a picture of the sand tray, and there is a matching picture on or by the sand tray, they are more likely to know where to go. (Simpson.R.L & Myles 2007)

2. Boundary settings: provide structure at home or at school. This structure helps children make appropriate choices about their behavior, resulting in a safer environment for them and others. The purpose of boundary setting is to provide a safe environment, create structure and provide clear, concise, and consistent guidelines for behavior. To teach children how to set their own boundaries in different settings. (Simpson.R.L & Myles 2007)

3. Visual supports that provide information: These allow students to anticipate upcoming events and activities, develop an understanding of time, and facilitate the ability to predict change (Brown, 1991). Visual supports assists students organize and predict daily events, they also help students in knowing what will happen next. It assists student’s transition from one activity to the next. (Simpson.R.L & Myles 2007)