Looking for autism classroom setup ideas and tips for your autism class? Whether you are creating a preschool autism classroom, a kindergarten autism classroom, or a classroom for older children on the autism spectrum, these autism classroom design tips will help! I have set up several self-contained autism classrooms, between creating classrooms in my own autism learning center and helping schools and autism centers setup classrooms as well.
Autism Classroom Setup (6 Tips)
Set up clear, dedicated spaces based on your students’ needs in your autism classrooms. These tips will help you select the right visual aesthetic for your learning space, minimize sensory overload, provide visual support, create dedicate space for learning, create space for rest and provide reinforcement as necessary.
Use simple colors
Use simple colors in the classroom to avoid provoking sensory stimulation in your students. I like painting walls white or simple colors like blue, pink, yellow or green.
Consider sensory stimulation
Many autistic individuals struggle with becoming overly stimulated. This is called sensory overload.
To avoid subjecting your little ones to sensory issues in your autism classroom, make sure you are considering their specific sensory needs when designing your learning space.
Avoid a cluttered, overly bright, overly colorful classroom to keep sensory overload at bay. Instead, design a classroom that has muted or neutral colors (I love pastels), that is clean and well organized and where every learning material or toy has its place where it can be put away after each activity.
Provide visual support
When teaching autistic children, providing visual support is key.
I love using visual schedules to guide my student throughout the activities of the day.
Visual schedules make it clear to your students what activities need to be completed when and also allow you to show them when they will have a break or get to do a reinforcing activity to break up more intense learning activities.
Create space for learning
Children with autism benefit from having dedicated learning spaces that are setup in a way that makes it clear exactly what needs to be worked on here.
Create space for rest
All the learning and all the play that happens during the day can be exhausting for our little students on the autism spectrum.
Make sure you create a space in the classroom that is set aside for rest. This way there is a dedicated space for students who need to take a little time to refresh and recharge during the school day.
Provide reinforcement
When designing your classroom spaces, don’t forget about including space and materials for reinforcement.
Positive reinforcement is an essential part of any learning program, whether you are working with children on the autism spectrum or not.
In the case of autistic children, it is crucial to create space that is motivating and reinforcing. Whether that is having a special box for token boards, a designated area for small reinforcers that can be used for table sessions or keeping a wall free for reward charts, planning for motivation and reinforcement in your classroom is key.
ABA Classroom Setup
Setting up an ABA classroom requires specific steps but it doesn’t have to be complicated.
An ABA program is based on using visual schedules and planning out specific activities to teach a variety of skills.
Fun and motivation is at the heart of any ABA classroom for kids with autism, so make sure your space is designed to reflect those values.
Plan out the activities you will be working on with your students and create a space that supports them.
Autism Classroom Activities
Once you have setup your dedicated learning space, the next step is to choose the activities you will use in your classroom.
These are some of the printable autism activities I’ve created that you can use in your classroom right away.
- Autism Activities Workbook Bundle – build communication skills, fine motor skills, sensory play skills and daily living skills, while helping your child or students to successfully manage any difficult behaviors, with these fun, educational, printable activities.
- Sensory Communication Workbook – Build communication skills with simple sensory activities.
- How to Make a Communication Binder Guide & Workbook – Learn how to create a Communication Binder for your child or student with autism using real photos. Follow my expert guide to learn how to use it to increase communication skills.
- Fine Motor Activities Bundle – simple, low-prep, printable activities that I have designed for you to work on fine motor skills in your autism classroom.
- Zoo Animals Play Dough Mats Bundle – use these printable play dough mat to work on the names of the animals, build language skills, and increase fine motor strength and precision in a fun, sensory way!
Supporting Students with Autism in the Classroom
Teaching children with autism in a dedicated classroom presents a variety of challenges. Children with autism have unique needs and each child is different, even if they are the same age.
Creating autism activities that cater to everyone’s needs is definitely a challenge.
How to Decorate Autism Classroom
As a general rule, it is best to avoid having cluttered wall space. To avoid sensory stimulation, it is best to have simple walls with a bit of simple decoration.
I love using children’s wall art to decorate my classrooms at my learning center.
I created this collection of wall art to decorate my learning spaces.
Autism Classroom Resources
- The Successful Interaction with a Child with Autism Course – learn to better understand your autistic child or students with this complete course.
- Autism Activities Workbook Bundle – build communication skills, fine motor skills, sensory play skills and daily living skills, while helping your child or students to successfully manage any difficult behaviors, with these fun, educational, printable activities.
- Sensory Communication Workbook – Build communication skills with simple sensory activities.
- How to Make a Communication Binder Guide & Workbook – Learn how to create a Communication Binder for your child or student with autism using real photos. Follow my expert guide to learn how to use it to increase communication skills.
- Zoo Animals Play Dough Mats Bundle – use these printable play dough mat to work on the names of the animals, build language skills, and increase fine motor strength and precision in a fun, sensory way!
Autism Classroom Setup
I hope you find these classroom setup tips helpful. If you have other tips to add, let me know in the comments below.
You must be logged in to post a comment.