Tips on learning from home

Top tips  

1. Take a deep breath. This is a very challenging time for everyone, especially parents. You are not a teacher and everyone is just doing the best they can. The school is responsible for providing the work. 
2. The school should provide additional supports for students with a disability. If you are not getting the support you need from the school, contact the Amaze Autism Advisors (details below). 
3. Teachers (and parents) may need to make reasonable adjustments to support a child’s learning. 
4. Teachers may need professional advice about supporting autistic children learning from home. You can direct them to contact the Amaze Autism Advisor service, Positive Partnerships, and/or the Department of Education.
5. Use visual schedules to plan your child’s school day.
6. Brain breaks – many autistic kids need “brain breaks” to rest during lessons. A brain break could be drawing, playing music, reading a favourite book, doing a puzzle, lying down, running around, sensory play, or anything else your child loves to do. Work out a schedule that works for your child. For example: 
   • Work – 15 minutes
   • Brain break – 10 minutes 
   • Work – 15 minutes 
   • Brain break – 10 minutes 

Top resources

• Positive Partnerships works with parents and educators to support autistic students at school. They are running weekly webinars during the coronavirus restrictions and have lots of other resources. 
• 10 Things Your School Can Do by Amaze, is a comprehensive guide to creating autism-friendly environments for education. 
• Department of Education and Training (DET) – has released a list of resources for learning from home. 
• Call the DET on 1800 338 663 for any questions or concerns 
• Enabling autistic students online: Top tips for teachers – resources from I CAN Network to help teachers support students with online learning. 

Autism Advisors

If you need information and advice about autism, and how to support your child’s learning from home – contact the Autism Advisors. Open from 8am to 7pm, Monday to Friday.

Phone: 1300 308 699

Email: [email protected]

Webchat: www.amaze.org.au

If you need immediate support, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Parentline on 13 22 89