Development of the Mathematical Representations in Children with ASD. Practical Case

The process of teaching children with autism spectrum disorders and mental disorders requires well-prepared environment and organization of the behavior of children. Additionally, this process requires teachers to make efforts to apply special working methods, adapt teaching materials and socialization measures. Currently, preschool educational institutions develop inclusive groups rapidly. The case of teaching a 6-year-old non-verbal boy with ASD to elementary mathematical concepts by the special teacher of a preschool educational institution in is presented. Guided by the principle of gradualness, the teacher included the child in group of normotypical peers. Using motivational techniques, prompts, modeling, the teacher normalized the boy’s behavior. To form elementary mathematical concepts, the teacher developed a step-by-step work plan. This plan involved implementation of PECS alternative communication system and the NUMIKON multi-sensory manual. NUMIKON helps to motivate and educate the child, develops sensory skills, communication, consolidate and generalize the acquired skills. As a result of application of presented training block the child gives 90% of the correct independent answers (according to the protocols of classes). Observations of the child in the preschool educational institution and a survey of parents showed that the frequency of episodes of undesirable behavior has decreased, the child is willingly included in the group of normotypical peers.

1. Adelova A., Dyboshina E.A. Opyt organizatsii psikhologo-pedagogicheskogo soprovozhdeniya inklyuzivnogo protsessa v detskom sadu [Organizational Experience of Psychological and Pedagogical Support of the Inclusive Environment in Kindergarten]. Autizm i narusheniya razvitiya [Autism and Developmental Disorders (Russia)], 2018, vol. 16, no. 4, pp. 47—51. DOI:10.17759/autdd.2018160408
2. Bereslavskaya M.I. Priemy organizatsii povedeniya i obucheniya detei s RAS, ispol’zuemye pedagogami v nachal’noi shkole FRTs MGPPU [The techniques of behavioral organization and of teaching of children with ASD used by teachers in primary school of Federal Resource Center of MSUPE]. Autizm i narusheniya razvitiya [Autism and Developmental Disorders (Russia)], 2017, 15, no. 4, pp. 26—34. DOI:10.17759/autdd.2017150404
3. Boryakova Yu. Stupen’ki razvitiya: Rannyaya diagnostika i korrektsiya zaderzhki psikhich. razvitiya, 1 god obucheniya: Ucheb.- metod. posobie dlya defektologov [Steps in development: Early diagnostic and correction of psychological development delay in the first year of school: Educational guide for defectologists]. Moscow: Publ. Gnom-Press, 2002. 64 p. ISBN 5-89334-128-7.
4. Vlasova L.I. Ustranenie u rebenka s RAS nezhelatel’nogo povedeniya na logopedicheskikh zanyatiyakh putem vvedeniya vizual’nogo raspisaniya [Discouraging unwanted behavior in children with SD at speechtherapy by introducing a visual schedule]. Autizm i narusheniya razvitiya [Autism and Developmental Disorders (Russia)], 2014, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 56—58.
5. Gilbert C., Peeters T. Autizm: Meditsinskoe i pedagogicheskoe vozdeistvie: Kn. dlya pedagogov-defektologov [Autism: Medical and Educational Aspects]. Moscow: Vlados, 2003. 144 p.
6. Greenspan S., Wieder S. Na ty s autizmom: ispol’zovanie metodiki Floortime dlya razvitiya otnoshenii, obshcheniya i myshleniya [Engaging Autism: Using the Floortime Approach to Help Children Relate, Communicate, and Think]. Moscow: Terevinf, 2013. 512 p. ISBN 978-5-4212-0153-3.
7. Grandin , Scariano M.M. Otvoryaya dveri nadezhdy: Moi opyt preodoleniya autizma [Emergence: Labeled Autistic]. Moscow: Publ. Center for Curative Pedagogics, 1999. 228 p. ISBN 5-88707-010-2.
8. Delaney Razvitie osnovnykh navykov u detei s autizmom: Effektivnaya metodika igrovykh zanyatii s osobymi det’mi [101 Games And Activities For Children With Autism, Asperger’s, And Sensory Processing Disorders]. 2nd ed. Ekaterinburg: Publ. Rama Pablishing, 2016. 272 p. ISBN 978-5-91743-064-5.
9. Zhukova N.S., Mastyukova E.M., Filicheva T.B. Preodolenie obshchego nedorazvitiya rechi u detei [Overcoming general speech impediment in children]. Ekaterinburg: ARD LTD, 1998. 320 p. ISBN 5-89396-085-8.
10. Kol’tsova M.M., Ruzina M.S. Rebenok uchitsya govorit’; Pal’chikovyi igrotrening [Your child is learning to speak: Finger play training]. Ekaterinburg: U-Faktoriya, 2005. 214 p. ISBN 5-9757-0003-5.
11. Cooper J., Heron T., Heward W. Prikladnoi analiz povedeniya [Applied Behavior Analysis]. Moscow: Publ. Praktika, 2016. 348—349, 456—472. ISBN 978-5-89816-157-6.
12. Lebedinskaya K.S., Nikol’skaya O.S., Baenskaya E.R. Neobkhodimy obshchie usiliya [Collective effort is necessary] [Web resource]. URL: http://www.autism.ru/read.asp?id=86&vol=0 (Accessed 03.2022).
13. Mezhdunarodnaya klassifikatsiya boleznei (10-i peresmotr): Klassifikatsiya psikhicheskikh i povedencheskikh rasstroistv [International Classification of Diseases (10th revision): Classification of mental and behavioral disorders]. Saint Petersburg: Adis, 1994. 300 p. ISBN 5-88578-002-1.
14. Nurieva G. Razvitie rechi autichnykh detei: Metodicheskie razrabotki [Speech development for autistic children: Guidelines]. 7th ed. (e-book). Moscow: Publ. Terevinf, 2013. 107 p. ISBN 978-5-4212-0132-8.
15. Nikol’skaya O.S., Baenskaya E.R., Libling M.M. et al. Autizm: vozrastnye osobennosti i psikhologicheskaya pomoshch’: posobie [Autism: age specifics and prychological support: Handbook]. Moscow: Publ. Poligraf Servis, 2003. 231 p.
16. Obuchenie detei s rasstroistvami autisticheskogo spektra: rekomendatsii dlya pedagogov i spetsialistov soprovozhdeniya osnovnoi shkoly [Teaching children with ASD: Guidelines for educators and support specialists in general education]. Moscow: Publ. Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, 2012. 80 p. ISBN 978-5-94051-114-4.
17. Frost L., Bondy A. Sistema al’ternativnoi kommunikatsii s pomoshch’yu kartochek (PECS) [The Picture Exchange Communication System Training Manual]. Moscow: Terevinf, 2011. 396 p. ISBN 978-5-4212-0026-0.
18. Khaustov A.V., Zagumennaya O.V. Adaptatsiya uchebnykh zadanii dlya detei s rasstroistvami autisticheskogo spektra [Adaptation of educational tasks for children with autism spectrum disorders]. Autizm i narusheniya razvitiya [Autism and Developmental Disorders (Russia)], 2016, 14, no. 1, pp. 20—28. DOI:10.17759/autdd.2016140203