Many children diagnosed with autism experience high levels of anxiety which leads to difficult coping skills. Self-regulation helps children on the autism spectrum learn how to mange stress and build resilience. It is through self-regulation that students learn ways to function and manage their own stress, the following links provide information on teaching children techniques on self-regulation. These techniques are also useful for children diagnosed with ADHD and anyone with emotional difficulties and impulses.
Studies show that in the United States, 6.4 million children between the ages of 4-17 have been diagnosed with ADHD. The average age of ADHD diagnosis is 7. Males are almost three times to be diagnosed with ADHD than females.
The DSM-V defines ADHD as a persistent pattern of attention and or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning of development. Inattention symptoms include the following:
often fails to give close attention to details
often has difficulty sustaining attention in task or play activities
often does not listen when spoken to directly
Often does not follow through on instructions
Often has difficulty organizing task and activities often avoids, dislikes or is reluctant to engage in task that requires sustained mental effort.
Hyperactive symptoms include:
trouble paying attention
restlessness
excessive talking
loud interaction with others
frequent interventions
may have a quick temper
The following links provide tools, resources and information for parents and special education educators on providing support to children diagnosed with ADHD.
Accommodations
Information on classroom accommodations including teaching techniques, learning style, schedule, environment, material, assistance and behavior management.
The following links are tips and strategies that are specific to teaching techniques and helpful information on behavior approaches, rewards, eliminating distractions and seating arrangements
Executive functioning helps students analyze a task, planning, organization, time management and finishing a task. The following links provide articles on understand executive functioning and its relationship to ADHD.