Persistence Pays Off
A teacher who has made a huge impact on numerous youngsters with autism over the years commented recently that she is impatient. “When the new school year starts, I see so many things that we can work on, and I want everything to happen right now!” In reality, her impatience translates into passionate persistence. She really cares about the youngsters and works intensely every day to make a real difference in their lives. Although that persistence is difficult to maintain, we can probably learn a few lessons from this teacher’s experiences.
STRATEGIES. The complexity of the issues that arise as a result of autism can drain our patience and lead to frustration. To one degree or another, we are dealing with issues related to communication, to social interaction, to compulsive behaviors, to restricted interests, to self-help skills, to everyday functioning, and to general contentment. As I’ve watched this teacher over the years, I’ve noticed that she is able to impact the lives of many kids by sticking with three basic strategies or philosophies.
(1) MAKE EVERY MINUTE COUNT. She comes to school every morning ready to roll. She has a plan in mind for each kid and gets right to it. She presents all learning experiences as if they are grand adventures. Even when the kids are relaxing before going to lunch, she has interesting books and toys for them to enjoy. This teacher is passionate about her role as a facilitator in the lives of these youngsters. She knows she only has two or three years to help them take steps forward in lots of different areas, so she works hard to make every minute count.
(2) EVERY KID IS UNIQUE. Some kids respond better to firm guidance and others need gentle persuasion. Some kids can decode visual cues while others are better auditory learners. Some kids function better in an environment guided by strict schedules and others are more responsive to floating casually from one activity to another. One of the keys to this teacher’s effectiveness is her ability to find out what works best for each student and to avoid the temptation to make all kids fit into one mold.
(3) DON’T EVER GIVE UP. When a kid reaches a dead end or begins regressing, this teacher doesn’t give up. She takes a step back, tries to figure out what is going wrong, and tries a new strategy or plan. Her persistence pays off in the lives of her students.
Granted, most of us cannot maintain that level of passionate persistence over the long haul. But we can utilize these three strategies for at least part of every day so we can help maximize the potential of individuals with autism while improving their quality of life.
NOTE TO LISTENERS AND READERS: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. You can click on a button to send me an email with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solutions. Check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. www.FAQautism.com
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