Sensory in the Classroom

Regional Autism Advisory Council of

Southwest Ohio (RAAC-SWO)

RAAC Training Committee 2011

The Basics of Autism Spectrum Disorders

Training Series

Training Series ModulesModule One: Autism Defined, Autism

Prevalence and Primary Characteristics

Module Two: Physical Characteristics of Autism

Module Three: Cognition and Learning in Autism

Module Four: Getting the Student Ready to Learn

Module Five: Structuring the Classroom Environment

Module Six: Using Reinforcement in the Classroom

Training Series Modules

Module Seven: Autism and Sensory Differences

Module Eight: Sensory in the Classroom

Module Nine: Communication and Autism

Module Ten: Communication in the Classroom

Module Eleven: Behavior Challenges and Autism

Module Twelve: Understanding Behavior in Students with Autism

Training Series ModulesModule Thirteen: Social Skills in the School

Environment

Module Fourteen: Functional Behavior Assessment

Module Fifteen: Working Together as a Team

Module Sixteen: Autism and Leisure Skills to Teach

Module Seventeen: Special Issues of Adolescence

Module Eighteen: Safety and Autism

Module Nineteen: Special Issues: High School, Transition, and Job Readiness

Training Series ModulesModule Twenty: Asperger Syndrome: Managing

and Organizing the Environment

Module Twenty-One: Asperger Syndrome: Addressing Social Skills

Addressing Sensory Needs in the Classroom Environment

Occupational Therapist on the team will create an individualized “sensory diet” for each student that needs one.

Sensory diet is made up of activities that will help the student be ready to learn during the school day.

Activities in the sensory diet are things that should occur everyday and should be implemented through out the school day.

Sensory diet is a proactive approach, which means it helps to prevent problem behavior related to sensory needs and ensures the student’s body is ready to learn.

Big Idea

Sensory activities can and should occur in all

environments of the school including the classroom,

hallway, lunch room, specials, playground, and bus.

Sensory Diet ActivitiesThere are four types of activities that may be a part of a student’s

sensory diet.

1. Core Muscle Strength Helps improve posture, or how a student sits at their desk or

table in the classroom environment.

2. Crossing Midline (when a person is asked to take their right hand and reach across to their left side to do something, or vise versa, asked to take their left hand and reach across to their right side to do something) Helps with reading, writing, and math concepts.

3. Heavy Work Helps a student calm down and re-focus.

4. Calming Helps a student transition to the next activity.

Core Muscle Strength Activities

Yoga Poses

Dog

Cat

Bridge

Cobra

Superman

Popcorn

Scooter board

Ball activities

Crossing Midline Activities• Cross Crawls- standing,

sitting, front back

• Brain Dance

• Alphabet Crossover

• Arm Swings- front, back, cross-over

• Balance beam- forwards, backwards, sideways

• Yoga-Windmill, Pretzel, Hero

Heavy Work ActivitiesWall pushes

Chair push-ups

Yoga

Exercise bands

Jumping- on floor, mini-tramp

Pushing/pulling- give them a job “delivering” something

Calming ActivitiesYoga Poses

Peacock

Mouse

Do Nothing Doll

Waterfall

Hook-Ups/Bear Hug

Listening Ears

Dots and Squeezies

Big Idea

Sensory activities help students stay calm and organized so that they

can be open to learning.