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Hi Martha,
This is a common issue. Do you have access to a speech and language therapist/pathologist. We are trained in setting up programs to facilitate autistic children communicate and and learn new skills. I think in the first instance what you need to do is to set up a visual timetable, and I'll be posting some more information on the site about this in the next few weeks (along with a host of other information on facilitating children with autism). If you create a visual timetable and place it vertically on the wall where the child can see and has access to it. Make the visuals detachable (velcro is is good to use) and as the child completes each activity remove the picture so he can see his day progressing. Be sure to put timeouts and rewards on the timetable so that the child can see if he completes something then he gets a break or reward (rewards can be timeout, or doing something he likes to do such as playing on the computer or reading a book). Be sure to put a time limit on rewards so that the child knows when they are finished and won't tantrum when he is requested to rejoin the class. Time limits can be set using a countdown chart or visual clock and I will talk more about these in the upcoming information that I am posting on the site.
If the child particularly dislikes a certain subject or activity, just do it for a very short period of time, but increase this slowly over a number of weeks. Also offer a reward following the subject, so the child can see he is working for something.
What is the child's level of communication and understanding? It may be worth implementing a system such as PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) which also includes a number of strategies to help with behaviour and following timetables etc.
This is rather a brief answer to quite a complex question, but I will be posting information regarding all these issues on the site by the end of February, so keep checking the site.
Thanks for your question and feel free to ask more.
Regards Johan
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