Autism doesn’t have to affect a child’s ability to learn, just the way the child learns!

This April, which is Autism Awareness Month, we bring to you five tips to help an Autistic Child read.

• Spend lots of time reading together. Numerous studies show that reading with children encourages their development of language and reading. This is no different for an autistic child.

• Take turns imitating what the characters are doing. If a character claps his hands, ask the child to do the same. According to autismspeaks.org, this allows the child to interact with the story non-verbally and engage with what’s happening.

• Provide supports, lots of opportunities to practice and lots of high-value reinforcement. According to autismchaostocalm.com, a trusting relationship between the learner and the instructor must be formed. The child must also have experience and confidence, so the learner should only ask the child to do tasks he or she can do for the length of time he or she is comfortable with. And be sure to monitor the child’s emotional reactions and provide supports and respite as soon as needed.

• Reward your child’s progress. According to allaboutlearningpress.com, it’s important to offer a visual way for your child to mark progress such as pasting stars on a chart. Also, don’t forget to use words of encouragement every step of the way such as ‘Great Job,’ or ‘You did Great!’

• Practice literacy when you’re out and about. Autismspeaks.org suggests you do things like reading signs with your child, especially those with safety-related messages. This can become a natural part of your day.