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Recognizing the diversity among students and addressing their unique needs is essential for fostering a positive learning atmosphere where every student can succeed. Although there is no universal method for teaching individuals or groups, having a diverse range of classroom resources available can enhance the accommodation of neurodiverse students and promote inclusivity in classrooms.
Classroom Resources for Autistic Students in Elementary School
For autistic students in PreK-5, adapting learning materials and processes can be as simple as incorporating more visual aids and establishing consistent routines.
“One strategy that’s been a game changer for me is using a simple First–Then visual (and sometimes a First–Then–Next) along with a timer. It works really well for a lot of my students with autism because it makes the day feel predictable and reduces anxiety—there’s no guessing what’s coming next or how long something is going to last.”
-Jenn from Teach Love Autism
Understanding your students’ specific interests can also significantly enhance their engagement with the material.
“I build engagement through choice, visuals, and meaningful communication opportunities. Embedding student interests into lessons, offering structured choices, and providing access to AAC or visual supports help students feel capable and heard.”
-Dawn from Cultivating Exceptional Minds
Autistic Leaders Coloring Pages | Autism Acceptance Month
By Autism Grown Up Resource Center
Grade: Any
Subject: SEL
This collection celebrates autistic leaders who are making a difference and advocating for representation. It includes images, biographies, and quotes from 10 influential figures.
Reading Community Schedules Worksheets Distance Learning
By Adulting Made Easy aka SpedAdulting
Grade: Not Grade Specific
Subject: Life Skills, Basic Reading
These worksheets improve functional reading comprehension with over 80 differentiated exercises tailored for special education, autism, and English language learner (ELL) classrooms. Students engage with common life skills through visually appealing activities.
Preschool Math Worksheets (0-20) Adapted for Autism, Special Education
By Educarebrusa
Grades: PreK-K
Subject: Math
This set of math worksheets is tailored to the CCSS for math, featuring four no-prep activities and one low-prep activity focused on patterns, number recognition, and estimation.
Donut Emotions Matching File Folder Game
By Limars Stars
Grades: PreK-K
Subject: ELA, SEL
This engaging game uses colorful donut faces to help students match emotions with expressions, making learning about feelings fun.
Same & Different Animal Shapes – Sorting Activities & Graphing – MegaBUNDLE
By Primarily Learning
Grades: PreK-1stÂ
Subject: Math, Reading
This resource offers over 100 pages of activities that involve sorting shapes and classifying animals, featuring a variety of creatures such as farm animals and sea creatures.
Writing Sentences 1st Grade – Sentence Writing Practice how to write sentences
By Totally Autism
Grades: K-3rd
Subject: Writing
Standard: CCSS CCRA.W.4
This resource simplifies sentence writing into clear, manageable steps, helping students succeed quickly by using visual aids like pictures to form complete sentences.
Social Skills for Autism: Shape Up Your Friendships!
By Katrina Bevan
Grades: 1st-3rd
Subject: Life Skills, Speech Therapy
These no-prep worksheets aim to help students reflect on their social skills, providing opportunities to practice making and maintaining friendships.
Classroom Resources for Autistic Students in Middle & High School
For older autistic students, the focus shifts to executive functioning and practical life skills.
“One of my top tips is to write instructions down. When instructions are written, the student can review them at their own pace and can ask more targeted questions. This may seem like a simple strategy, but we teachers often give a long run-down of what to do, which can be overwhelming for many students.”
-Sarah from Mme Miller
Providing choices can also foster independence in students.
“I love to offer choices and options to encourage student independence in class. I keep the number of choices manageable, so students don’t become overwhelmed or confused.”
-Anne from Real World Resources by Anne Vize Writing
I am Autistic PRINTABLE | Social Narrative & Activity | Autism Acceptance Story
By Transition Abilities
Grade: Not Grade Specific
Subject: SEL
This resource educates students about autism in a neurodiversity-affirming format, offering four differentiated levels and hands-on activities.
Executive Functioning Skills Lessons & Activities
By Pathway 2 Success
Grades: 5th-8th
Subject: School Psychology
These lessons cover essential executive functioning skills, including planning, organization, and time management, with each lesson featuring a skill description, pre-assessment, and practice activities.
Grocery Store Life Skills Worksheets – Special Education and Autism Resource
By Adapting for Autism
Grades: 6-12
Subject: Life Skills
Prepare students for community independence with these worksheets, which serve as practical exercises before grocery store visits, covering skills like dollar up strategies and reading receipts.
Next Dollar Up Worksheets: Distance Learning Compatible
By Autism Classroom Resources – Christine Reeve
Grades: 7th-10th
Subject: Math, Life Skills
Standards: CCSS K.CC.A.3, B.4, C.6
These worksheets help students practice the Next Dollar Up strategy to calculate the number of dollar bills required for purchases.
Self Advocacy Scenarios Activities for Neurodiverse Learners | Neurodiversity
By The Gift of Gab
Grades: 9th-12th
Subject: School Counseling, SEL
These activities are designed to teach neurodiverse learners about self-advocacy, helping them identify where they want to advocate for themselves.
Neurodiversity Affirming “Social Language” Workbook
By The Communication Classroom
Grades: 9th-12th
Subject: SEL
This workbook is crafted for neurodivergent teens to explore neurodiversity, communication, and social preferences, serving as a conversation starter about embracing neurodivergent traits.
Use specific resources to target specific student needs
Each student is a unique individual with distinct learning styles and needs, making it challenging to address everyone effectively. Teacher-created special education resources for all ages can help simplify the process of differentiating lessons and activities. During Autism Acceptance Month in April, consider utilizing these resources with your entire class to foster a better understanding of their autistic peers.
