ASD students’ needs - Module 2

2. CLASSROOM. THE REASON FOR THE ORGANIZATION

2.4. Team work

In relation to group work, it is very likely that students with ASD feel uncomfortable since they do not feel comfortable with the structure of the work. The problems they may have are related to: the lack of explicit rules for group work; the little structuring; the lack of social communication; the amount of stimuli to which they may be subjected; carrying out activities that require a lot of creativity; activities that require a lot of speed or; the little presence of the interests of the students.

Therefore, for group work to be done in a more bearable way, it is convenient to carry out a series of guidelines such as:

  • Carry out the groupings according to the students most related to the student with ASD.
  • Provide explicit information.
  • Provide written job requirements.
  • Extend presentation times, giving the option of preparing the work in different formats, etc.
  • Use temporal and spatial structuring strategies respecting the routines to which they are accustomed in students with ASD.
  • Offer scripts that facilitate the elaboration of creative activities.
  • Closely supervise the group.
  • Self-evaluate the activity together with the student with ASD so that they offer information about what they liked, what they least liked or what they found the most difficult.