Aspects That Make the Environment More Inclusive For People with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
An inclusive environment for children with ASD should address their specific needs, especially regarding socialization, sensory responsiveness, and communication (Falvo, 2013). First, there should be a responsive sensory environment for these children to enable them to process and organize the information they gather from their senses, such as taste, touch, sight, smell, and sound. As such, they will have enhanced sensory integration that can boost their balance, visual perception, self-help skills, and coordination, gross and fine motor development, and consequently promote their engagement in social activities (Woronko & Killoran, 2011). For instance, the children who are tactile under-responders can be given vibrating pencils to ensure constant tactile stimulation. Their disruptive sensory seeking character can also be minimized by giving them fidget toys to hold. The ASD children who are over-responsive to sight and sound should be given auditory integration training. Sound dampening tools like floor carpeting can also be included in their environment to reduce visual and sound distractions.
Their effective communication can also be enhanced using technologies such as picture exchange communication systems, especially among the nonverbal children. Gestures, adaptive, and argumentative communication systems can also be used in creating an equitable social engagement for the children with ASD (Woronko & Killoran, 2011). The children can also be trained sign language, and speech-generating devices can also help them in communicating.
Another way of creating an inclusive environment is by fostering genuine relationships that can enhance their interaction with others. Their social interaction can be supported through strategies such as the circle of friends, increasing their physical proximity with peers, encouraging natural peer interaction opportunities, using interactive technology, and creating communication cards that emphasize on social exchanges.