6 Tips to Teach Writing to a Student with Autism

A guest post by Chloe Bennet

Autism can affect the way children learn, and it is commonly accompanied by concurrent difficulties such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. Writing can be difficult for children with autism both because of organizational difficulties and coordination challenges. Teaching a child with autism to write can be a challenging and unique experience, but there are many solutions to help them learn this highly important skill. Use these six tips to teach writing to a student with autism.

Read to Them

One of the best ways for anyone to improve their writing is to simply read more. You may find what works best is to read to your child. “Let them pick books on subjects that interest them, and they will be more likely to pay attention. Books about the alphabet are also a good idea because they can help introduce basic reading and writing elements that will help the child begin to write. Try and keep your sessions relatively brief, since children with autism often struggle to sit still for long periods of time,” writes Robert Beavers, educator at Academized. Read on your own, and let your child see you reading, to encourage them to do the same.

Try Grips and Texture 

If your child is having difficulties gripping a pencil, consider picking up a pencil grip to help them. These grips can take the form of soft pads that wrap around the pencil, finger holes, or even special pencils designed to be easier to grasp. You can also try using touch to get them started writing. Some autistic children enjoy certain textures, so you can use these textures to encourage them to write. Some examples include finger painting or even writing in shaving cream.

Use Simple Language

Keep your language as simple and concrete as possible. Try to get your point across in as few words as you can. Using this kind of very straightforward language might feel different and strange, but it will help you communicate better with a child with autism. In the same vein, give the child a small amount of choices to pick from. The more options, the more confused an autistic child will become.

Add Writing to Their Daily Routine

Children with autism can thrive when they are following a routine. They appreciate the safety and stability of these routines, so apply that when teaching them writing as well. As writing becomes a regular part of their daily schedule, you may see a significant increase in their progress. Be sure not to pressure them into writing. If they really don’t feel like writing, it’s best to let it go and move on with the routine. They should look at writing as something fun, not a chore. 

Try Autism Writing Tools

We already mentioned using grips to help your child with writing, but there are more options. If the child struggles with pencil grip, try giving them weighted pencils to give them some sensory feedback that will help them improve. You can also use hand and wrist weights for this purpose, and also to provide a sense of security.

Use Online Tools for Extra Help

Autistic students can learn how to write an essay; it just takes a unique approach. These online resources can help you and your student improve writing skills and have fun:

#1. ViaWriting and WritingPopulist – Use these grammar resources to break down grammar rules and make them more approachable for your student with autism.

#2. Academic Paper Help and EssayRoo – These online proofreading tools have been recommended by Essayroo review and are very helpful for a student learning to write.

#3. StudyDemic and StateofWriting – Read through these blogs, and you’ll learn some helpful suggestions about essay writing. Then you can put those suggestions to good use and use them to help your student with autism.

#4. Boom Essays and UKWritings – Check out these editing tools, which have been reviewed by UKTopWriters. Editing is one of the most challenging aspects of writing, and most people don’t do well at editing their own work.

#5. MyWritingWay and LetsGoandLearn – Use these academic writing guides to make sure your student is familiar with all the steps in the writing process.

Conclusion

Teaching children with autism to write can be challenging, but with the right approach, you can successfully teach your child how to write. Read to them and help introduce the basics to them. Make it a part of their daily routine; children with autism thrive on routine. Take advantage of online writing tools, as well as aids such as grips and weights, to help them learn.

 

Chloe Bennet is a book editor and proofreader at Assignment Writing Service and Big Assignments websites. She helps with book marketing, design, and legal aspects of publishing. Chloe also tutors at Elite Assignment Help portal.