Teach Autistic child to read (Level 1)

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So you want to teach your Autistic child to read.

Yup! You are definitely on the right post.

Over the last few decades there have been many different styles of teaching children how to read.

Every few years a new technique comes out claiming to be better than the last.

In recent years there has actually been a newer method introduced both in schools and kindergartens that reach children the ABC’s and also later on how to read words.

I will share how I taught my Autistic child to read because that is something I know works for sure.

Now I know not all Autistic children are the same. And that everyone learns at a different pace compared to their peers.

But this method, I promise you is extremely effective for both Autistic and non Autistic children.

I know this because I am using this method to teach both of them.

And it is working with both of them!

This same method has worked wonders for my sisters 4 children also.

Background info….

I am an Autistic mother and I have an Autistic child as well as a non Autistic child.

We went down the route of getting my child diagnosed with Autism as soon as I saw that they were beginning to behave the same way I used to.

Stimming and ticking as well as exhibiting certain signs of OCD were among some of the few.

Our diagnosis came once my kid was a little over 2 years old.

The specialist who gave us the diagnosis for my childs’ Autism, told us that my child would never be able to speak.

They told us our child would never be able to make friends.

Or socialise.

Or even be able to function in the average school.

We were told they would never be able to independently use the toilet, or be able to eat on their own.

That specialist destroyed my husband and I. I left that office in absolute tears.

But without wanting to sound corny, she sparked a fire in me.

A very big spark of “eff you” fire!

Moving forward…

Naturally, my husband and I began to look for behaviour specialists as well as therapists that could help our child navigate the world. While of course doing our best to help them at home also.

We decided that placing my Autistic child in an average school would be the best place for them. Instead of in a special school.

Of course, this can sometimes come with my child falling behind on certain social games that they play etc.

So I try my best to prepare my child for every new step that they take with their classmates.

I work with them at home on school work and I teach homeschooling materials also.

This ensures my child feels comfortable in their class and does not struggle more than everyone else.

I am all for being independent and feeling good.

But I do not want my Autistic child to feel different in a negative way.

And if it is something so simple like playing tag with them at home over and over to try to teach the rules of tag, so my child can play tag with the others kids in school. So be it.

As well as part time home schooling my Autistic child, I did everything else with them that the specialist told me would be impossible.

For example:

It took me 8 months to potty train my Autistic child,

And another 7 months doing food therapy to get them to eat independently.

But I did it!

Never, ever lose hope from a diagnosis. Our Autistic children are capable of so much and they have so much potential that just needs to be allowed to flourish.

Anyway,

My child learned the ABC’s from a very early age and so it only feels natural to build on that.

While they are not yet learning how to read in my child’s class. I know my child can learn it.

And I knew they were ready to learn how to read as soon as they started spelling out words that they would come across almost the whole day.

So it began.

Like this…..

Step 1 – The Alphabet

Teach your child the ABC’s.

Not only by teaching them the ABC song but them really knowing the alphabet well.

For example being able to recognise each individual letter.

Even if they are scrambled up.

The song is a great way to get this done.

Cocomelon has some amazing ones that really help to focus on each individual letter instead of just speeding through the song. As most of the ABC songs actually are set out like.

But I also found that, reading bedtime stories which included the ABC’s worked really well.

One of the books I found to be amazing and that my chidren loved is called, Thomas ABC, Learn the Alphabet with Thomas.

Of course my Autistic child absolutely loves trains so this was an amazing book to start off with.

Each letter also has a word beginning with that letter either related to Thomas the train series or things related to trains.

Step 2 – Phonics

This one is really the newer method.

You teach each letter of the alphabet in the way that they sound.

I have found an amazing series on youtube which describes this really well.

The series is called Mr. Thorne does Phonics.

He has phonins from A to Z, as well as words which start with the specific letter, and has the letter in their middle or at their end.

As well as the sh sounds and the oo sounds. And also the 2 different ways of reading the G letter.

Actually, I will link his videos here because they have helped my children also learn the phonics incredibly well.

Really check out his videos here,

Focussing on how the letter sounds vs what the ‘name’ of the letter is means that a child can look at a word. And be able to spell it out.

This really helpes speed up learning how to read and actually reading.

Teaching phonics to my child felt a little bit odd. Because I was taught the classical method, which actually is the much harder method.

Step 3 – Starting simple

So the thing to remember is to put two letters together.

Ask your Autistic child to read out the phonic of the letters.

As in how the letters sound. Not read out the actual letter name.

And put those 2 sounding letters together.

Examples of these 2 letter words include:

etc.

Once your child has gotten the hang of reading the 2 letter words then you should start to introduce 3 letter words.

Try to make it slightly more complicated as your child progresses.

Introduce simple words such as:

Was,
Off,
Out,
Put,
Two,
Lip,
Tip,
Top,
Sip,
Rap,
Sap

etc

So once they have mastered these words and can somewhat read 3 word letters, or at least be able to sound out the words without skipping a letter. Then you can proceed to Level 1 reading books.

Step 4 – Level 1 Reading Books

You can find many books that have a Level 1 reading level required in libraries and read them with your child.

Otherwise, if you do not find anything suitable you can always make up your own short stories.

Try to do it in whatever topics interest your child.

For example my younger, non Autistic child likes animals. So a short story for them goes something like this:

The Cat sat in a big hat all day. She was sad. But the sun was out and it was fun to see the sun for the cat. The cat saw a boy. The boy was Tom. Tom is a boy who will say, The sun is out and the air is hot. Let us all get in the car. It is so fun to go out and sit in the car.

Now bear in mind I am not a story maker.

I am not a novelist.

And god knows I can not write stories even if my life depended on it.

But you get my point right?

I know that the word ‘will’ has 4 letters instead of 3.

However, most double letters sounds makes no difference to the sounding of the word.

So having a 4 letter word such as ‘will’ or ‘hill’ or words similar to that etc are not a problem to include.

As long as they end in the same letter and the sounding of the ending of the word does not change!

Step 5 – Repeat

Get them to read as much as possible but keep it light and fun.

Do not make it a chore or make it daunting.

For example, when you go shopping and you take them with you, try to get them to read short words.

Another little thing to remember is that for as long as you keep it interesting and enjoyable. Is for as long as your child will enjoy reading.

Do not force them to sit down and shove a book in front of their face.

It should be light and fun.

Especially if your child is young.

Further Posts…..

Like I mentioned above, I have been doing therapy with my Autistic child at least 3 times a week for almost 3 years now.

In addition to this, I do part time home schooling with both my Autistic child and my Non Autistic child.

I have written some posts also on how to teach your Autistic child to write.

You can read those here…

Teach Autistic child to write (level 1)

Teach Autistic child to write (level 2)