Accommodations and adjustments for the primary years

Addressing the diverse needs of all students is important, particularly for those on the autism spectrum.

It is vital to understand that each autistic student has different abilities, preferences, learning styles, and challenges that require flexible and adaptable accommodations. Accommodations for autistic students must be as individual as their experiences. Utilising a flexible and inclusive approach, alongside straightforward yet effective modifications to the learning environment, can enhance the educational outcomes for these students. Instead of adopting a one-size-fits-all method, it is more beneficial to provide a range of support options tailored to meet the varied needs of all students.

Adapting the classroom 

A structured environment is a key accommodation for autistic students. Creating quiet zones or corners, sensory spaces and keeping the classroom minimalistic can all help give students the sense of calm they need to stay focused throughout the day. 

The classroom environment goes beyond just the physical layout, it should include implementing clear schedules, work systems, routines, and visual strategies. Such an environment helps improve concentration, increases predictability, provides clear visual cues for upcoming activities or required actions, eases transitions between activities, and reduces stress and anxiety.

The classroom should be organised to promote consistency through established routines and visual aids. This includes designating specific areas for certain activities, clarifying expectations, ensuring proper supervision, minimising distractions, and enhancing targeted skills. This type of environment not only boosts engagement and prevents disruptive behaviour but also builds independence through routine tasks.

Visual schedules and cues

Utilising visual supports and schedules is a great strategy, particularly for autistic students who are visual learners rather than auditory learners. Visual aids provide a consistent reference that can enhance understanding and boost confidence, unlike auditory information, which can be misinterpreted and difficult to remember. Examples of visual aids include:

• Choice boards -  These help with decision-making
• First/then schedules - These help with motivation and understanding sequences.
• Visual timetables - These give a clear overview of the day’s or task’s structure.
• Task breakdowns - These visually outline the steps involved in an activity, helping to clarify the relationships between each step.
• Visual timers -  These show time intervals, helping with time management and anticipating transitions.

Offering flexible seating options

‍Acknowledging that traditional seating does not suit all students, particularly those with sensory sensitivities or difficulties staying still, flexible seating is advantageous. Options such as bean bag chairs, yoga balls, bouncy bands for chairs, wiggle stools, balance cushions, and vibrating cushions can meet various sensory needs, helping students stay focused and comfortable.

Allow for sensory breaks

‍Sensory breaks are essential for assisting autistic students in managing sensory sensitivities and maintaining focus. These breaks allow students to engage in activities that regulate sensory input and promote calmness. Effective sensory breaks can include:

• Drinking water
• Using fidget toys
• Engaging in physical activities like stretching,  jumping jacks or taking a short walk
• Listening to music to alleviate stress
• Watching a short video

Breaking down tasks

‍This technique involves breaking down a task into smaller, manageable steps. Each step is treated as a mini-goal, making the entire task less overwhelming and more achievable. For educators, this involves identifying and teaching each step separately, then gradually integrating them to complete the overall task, applicable to complex activities from solving math problems to everyday tasks like organising a school bag.

Using technology

‍Technology plays an important role in education, offering a variety of tools that support the diverse learning needs of autistic students. These range from apps that enhance organisation and time management to platforms facilitating non-verbal communication. Selecting appropriate tools is essential, ensuring they complement rather than replace hands-on learning experiences. For example, video modelling is an excellent method for demonstrating new tasks clearly and repeatably, while interactive educational apps can transform abstract concepts into engaging, interactive lessons.

Alternatives to traditional writing

‍For many autistic students, the physical act of writing can be difficult, which then inhibits their ability to express thoughts and knowledge. A simple adjustment, such as substituting pencils with keyboards, can remove this barrier. This allows students to concentrate on the content rather than the mechanics of writing. Educators can support this shift by providing access to computers or tablets and integrating typing skills into the curriculum from an early age.  

Incorporate personal interests

Using students' personal interests to improve their learning journey is an effective strategy to boost engagement and motivation. This involves identifying what each student is passionate about and integrating these interests into the curriculum. For instance, a student interested in cars could explore mathematical concepts by calculating car speeds or distances. This method not only makes learning more relevant and exciting but also uses the student’s natural interests to promote deeper understanding.

Supporting autistic students during exams

Exam periods are particularly challenging for students with autism. Due to factors such as increased anxiety, perfectionist tendencies, and unique learning styles, these students often experience elevated stress levels. They may require additional time to interpret questions or might focus excessively on a difficult question. Additionally, some students might struggle to explain their reasoning, tending to present final answers without detailing the steps taken.

To effectively support these students, it is important to implement appropriate adjustments that enable them to show their knowledge and abilities during assessments. Research shows that increased familiarity with the exam format, through practice tests and review of past papers, is beneficial. 

Specific exam adjustments and accommodations

Consider practical options for exam format adjustments, such as delivering questions verbally, using a scribe familiar to the student, or allowing students to dictate answers into a recording device. It may also be effective to divide the examination into two sessions and simplify the test paper’s format to aid student comprehension and response.

Environmental adjustments can include setting up a quieter, separate testing area or modifying seating arrangements to minimise stress. Allowing students to select their entry time into the exam room and providing a calm waiting area can help create a more supportive environment.

Timing adjustments are essential. Extending time allowances, removing stringent time limits, and providing extra time for reading questions can significantly improve a student's performance. The focus should be on evaluating the student’s comprehension and knowledge, not their speed.

The testing environment should be designed to minimise distractions that could negatively impact performance. This includes controlling noise from fans and air conditioning units, addressing lighting conditions such as flickering lights, and ensuring that external activities are not disruptive.

Understanding NAPLAN adjustments for students with additional needs

Standardised testing, such as the National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN), presents unique challenges for students with additional needs. NAPLAN evaluates literacy and numeracy skills in students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 across Australia. To ensure equitable testing conditions, various adjustments are made available to enable all students, including those with additional needs, to participate effectively.

NAPLAN adjustments are tailored accommodations designed to support students with additional needs. These adjustments are tailored to align with the individual needs of each student, providing a testing environment that helps them to demonstrate their literacy and numeracy skills without any barriers. The adjustments provided for students with additional needs during NAPLAN testing are diverse and aim to address a broad spectrum of requirements. Here are some examples:

• Assistive technology: Use of specialised equipment or software helps students complete their tests. Examples include screen reading software or alternative input devices like joysticks or touch screens.
• NAPLAN online test adjustments: These adjustments on the NAPLAN online platform might include modifications to the visual display or the integration of assistive devices compatible with the testing environment.
• Alternative format tests: Providing tests in various formats ensures that all students can access the test content, regardless of their specific needs.
• Scribes and support persons: A scribe may write down answers as dictated by the student, or a support person may assist in navigating the test without influencing the student’s responses.
• Reading to students: For tests other than the reading test, it may be permissible to read questions and prompts to students to reduce the impact of literacy challenges on their performance in other areas, such as mathematics.
• Extra time and rest breaks: Students may be allowed additional time and scheduled breaks to accommodate those who require a slower pace or need time to regroup.