Coaching People with Autism

UK Coaching and The National Autistic Society

23 Apr 2018

30,992

Supporting Specific Needs Organising and Planning

ASC is a lifelong developmental disability that can affect the way a person communicates and relates to others. It is called a spectrum as it shows itself in such a wide variety of ways, ranging from individuals who are pedantic about certain things to those with Asperger syndrome.

The following points summarise many of the characteristics of people with ASC.

It is important to understand that not everyone on the autism spectrum will have all of these characteristics; they may present only one or two of the following. By understanding what ASC is, you will feel supported to make your sessions a more positive experience for all your participants.

The following guidance has been produced in conjunction with The National Autistic Society.

General characteristics of people with ASC

Difficulty with social interaction/relationships.
May appear aloof and indifferent to others.
Avoid eye contact.
Difficulty in interacting with others.
Unaware of others’ feelings towards them and the impact of their behaviour on others.
Apparent insensitivity to peers.
No concept of their role within a group.
Little or no perception of danger.
Resistant to change.

Common characteristics of people with ASC

Poor physical/motor skills.
Obsessions, usually with toys or objects.
High levels of anxiety.
Lack of motivation.
Depression and low self-esteem.
Inability to transfer skills from one situation to another.
Vulnerable and susceptible to exploitation.
Challenging behaviour.
Self-injury/self-harm.

National Autistic Society indoor coaching session

Social Communication

May repeat/echo words or phrases.
Inappropriate laughing or giggling.
No or inappropriate response to sounds.
Difficulty with expression, and so may need to use gestures.
One-sided interaction.
Associate communication/behaviour with people.
Failure to respond to their name (unless looking at them).
Failure to comply with general instructions when given to a whole group.
Difficulty in understanding verbal communication.
Difficulty in understanding non-verbal communication such as gestures, tone of voice and expressions.

Imagination

Limited imagination; some individuals can be over-imaginative and will ‘know everything’.
Limited development of play (concepts of sharing and taking turns).
Unusual or inappropriate play.
Inappropriate attachments to objects.
May spin objects or themselves.

There are times when I need a lot of room. Sometimes this entire lounge may not be big enough. Sometimes when someone brushes past you, it can be as bad as someone pushing past you. I don’t fully know why I find it hard, but I think it’s about an invasion of space and physical contact when I’m not expecting it. Usually it’s not things that people do intentionally which just spark it.

Alex Marshall, 10

Including people with ASC in your coaching sessions

Use their name at the beginning of an instruction or question.
Tell the participant what to do rather than what not to do.
Use face-to-face interaction when possible.
Use visual communication when possible.
Help your participant to anticipate what will happen next (eg ‘When the ball is passed to Bill, who will Bill pass to?’).
Give warnings of any changes that are about to happen (eg ‘John, in a few minutes, we will be moving on to a game’).
Control the environment and don’t overstimulate (eg face them away from any distractions).
Teach them the rules and use prompts/reminders to reinforce them.
Provide a definite beginning and end to activities.
Reduce anxiety with a confident and positive approach; the participant will feel safer knowing that if they lose control, you won’t.
Provide a safe place and/or person the participant can go to when a situation becomes too much for them to cope with.