Our Approach to Tutoring Children with Autism

In-Home Tutors has years of experience tutoring children on the autism spectrum. We have many tutors with special ed teacher certification. We also have some excellent tutors with no formal training who nonetheless do very well with students with high-functioning autism (often known as Aspergers). Here’s how we coach our tutors (and parents) when we assign them a child on the spectrum:

Structure and organization are essential. Before the tutor arrives, we ask the parent to set a timer so the child knows of the upcoming transition to homework. The parent should never surprise the child the arrival of the tutor; it’s good to remind the child that it’s a tutoring day in the morning and as soon as the child arrives home from school.
The tutor lesson plan emphasizes consistency. We start each session by telling the child what we are going to do.
Request a consistent meeting place (like the kitchen table or library) and a set homework time, taking into account extra-mural activities.
Be patient and present information in small chunks to compensate for weak working memory. Ask the child to repeat back what you said, and ask them what it means — this help you see how they are processing the information, and if they are understanding what you are requesting them to do.
Be literal. Don’t use idioms like “barking up the wrong tree” and don’t say anything in a teasing way.
Assess your student’s learning style. It’s probably visual. Use pictures and charts wherever possible.
Have your student teach you the material (a useful technique for all children but especially ASD or ADHD kids)
And possibly most important: meet the student where they are at that moment. If they are not ready for tutoring to begin, don’t say anything, just let them chill for a moment quietly until they indicate you can start the lesson. If you have a younger child about to meltdown, forget the worksheet for now and instead take a walk with the child and do mental math or review spelling words as you walk or throw a ball back and forth.

So do a few tips like these turn our tutors into learning specialists? Of course not, but we would argue that an empathetic tutor in a one-on-one setting can be just as effective with your child — at a lower rate. We’d also acknowledge that we do better with higher functioning children on the autism spectrum.