Teaching Autism? Read This First

Why Teaching Autistic Students Requires a Different Lens

Many teachers feel unsure about how to support students with autism. That feeling is valid. Most classrooms were not designed with autistic learners in mind. But every student deserves to feel safe, seen, and supported in school so they can reach their full academic and life potential.

Autistic students often communicate, think, and process information in ways that fall outside the typical patterns teachers are used to. This does not make their ways of learning wrong. It means educators need better tools and frameworks.

The Universal Best Practices for All Learners (UBP) program was built to address this gap. It gives educators the structure and language to build learning environments that include everyone.

Common Needs in the Classroom

While each autistic student is different, some common needs show up again and again. These include:

• A clear structure in the daily schedule and routines

• Visual or written directions instead of verbal-only cues

• Support for sensory differences

• More time to process questions and transitions

• Alternative ways to communicate needs or preferences

These needs are not unique to autism. Many students benefit from them. That is why UBP focuses on building classrooms that are responsive and flexible.

Four Areas That Make a Difference

UBP is organized around four pillars that support all learners. For autistic students, these areas are especially important:

1. Communication and Interaction

Not every student communicates in the same way. Some use pictures or gestures. Others speak with repetition, scripting, or assistive technology. The classroom should make room for all of these forms of communication. One key UBP practice is teaching classmates how to listen and respond to different types of expression (e.g., verbal, nonverbal, paraverbal, written, etc...).

2. Cognition and Learning

Autistic students often have deep knowledge in a few areas of interest. They may struggle with generalizing ideas across subjects or with open-ended tasks. UBP helps educators break learning into smaller, more concrete steps. It also encourages connecting instruction to what a student already cares about.

3. Social-Emotional Strengthening

Many autistic students experience stress at school. This can be due to peer dynamics, noise, unpredictability in student dynamics, or frustration with expectations. UBP includes strategies like offering predictable transitions, and helping students identify emotions and self-regulation tools.

4. Executive Functioning

Executive functioning includes skills like planning, shifting focus, organizing materials, and remembering steps. These can be hard for some autistic learners. UBP offers ways to support this through visual checklists, built-in routines, and reducing the number of verbal instructions.

What You Can Do This Week

Here are three small steps you can take to make your classroom more inclusive right now:

• Add a daily visual schedule to your whiteboard (or include your routines)

• Offer two ways for students to ask for help (such as raising a hand or using a help card)

• Ask a student about their interests, and use that as a connection point in your next lesson

• Order your copy of UBP now!

These are not dramatic changes. They are clear actions that move a classroom toward greater accessibility for often misunderstood students.

UBP Gives You a Plan

Many teachers want to help but are unsure where to begin. That’s what the UBP framework solves. It includes 90 best practices for designing classrooms where all students — including those with autism — can learn and thrive.

Each practice is clear, realistic, and grounded in research. Educators across public, private, and charter schools have used this framework to make lasting changes. It doesn't require a master's degree or a professional development session. This book is designed to help you make the changes you need to make your classroom accessible to every student.

Learn More

If you’re teaching students with autism this year, don’t wait to figure it out on your own. UBP offers a ready-made structure to guide your next steps.

• Visit www.legacy-ed.com

• Order the book on Amazon

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