Special school teacher and learning coach Barbara Hippler shares her expertise on helpful support measures for autistic students in the Luxembourg school system. She provides concrete recommendations for teachers and shows which structures and tools can make everyday school life easier.
What are measures that help pupils?
1 Structure and clarity: Clear instructions, visual aids (e.g. checklists) and clear daily planning are often desired.
2 Individualised support: Many would like their learning methods to be adapted to their strengths and interests.
3 Retreats: A quiet place to study or relax is often appreciated.
4 Patience and understanding: Pupils want their special needs to be taken seriously without being judged.
5 Promoting their strengths: Many people have exceptional abilities (e.g. in certain subjects) and want these to be recognised and promoted.
6 Assistance in social situations: Practical tips and exercises to get along better with classmates and teachers.
What would you recommend to teachers?
Further training: I consider further training on the topic of “Autism in the classroom. How can I deal with it?”. This gives teachers an understanding of the difficulties of the pupils and what measures can be helpful. Further training courses for teachers are available from IFEN (Institut de formation de l’Éducation Nationale). Inclusion assistants or specialists can contact the University of Luxembourg. There is still a lack of specific and individualised support and advice for teachers on how to deal with autistic children in the classroom.
Pedagogical-didactic measures such as structuring, clear communication and clear, well-organised learning materials can be implemented directly by the teachers. I am happy to pass on some helpful recommendations to teachers (see document “Recommendations for teachers with autistic pupils”).
Inclusion assistant: There is also the option of applying for an inclusion assistant who can help pupils with structuring, daily planning, social interaction, stimulus reduction, etc. (unfortunately only possible for pupils in primary school in Luxembourg).
Compensation for disadvantages in secondary school: In secondary school, parents can apply for compensation for disadvantages (aménagements raisonnables), which often cannot sufficiently address the specific needs of pupils.