Glad to be here! I have some questions for you.

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Hi everyone,

My name is Ryley. I am not autistic, however, I have a family member who is. My family, with the help of many volunteers, run an annual motorcycle bike rally called CAM's Ride (Crusin' for Autism in Minnesota). We raised over $10,000 last year for the Autism Society of Minnesota. =)

I attend college in Minnesota and I am currently writing a research paper on ways to help students on the spectrum learn more effectively. I am also a writing tutor on campus.

I have a few questions for you:

I am curious to know what kinds of teaching styles have worked best for you? Do you learn better when the teacher uses visual aides? What types of challenges do you face during the learning process? When it comes to writing, what problems do you encounter?

What can I do (as a tutor) to help you succeed?

I value what you have to say and I welcome any suggestions and comments.

Thanks everyone!

I learn well by viewing things logically. Algorithms make little sense; Algebra makes little sense unless I can reason out exactly what everything represents and see it concretely.

I am very visual and love to have pictures, but words are also a must. I'm also very verbal. How about you try asking the people you actually tutor, though?

I face problems with attention. Mine wanders. Really far, really fast. And then I tune back in, but I missed the first half of your sentence and now I'm lost. Nothing else makes sense.

1. Examples. I can't learn things well without them.

2. WHY. Learning mathematical formulas is pointless if you're not taught why you get your answer.

3. Periodically asking if I understand things. In school I wasn't able to ask for help.

4. Specific assignments. Nothing open-ended, especially in English class.

5. Using a keyboard instead pen and paper really helps a lot of students, most autistic kids work well with computers and sometimes have trouble with motor skills that make writing more difficult.

6. An opportunity to do work at home or in a quiet place. In-class work is nearly impossible when you're so uncomfortable from the surroundings.

As for thinking style, there isn't a thinking style that is specific to everyone with autism. It seems most common that verbal instructions are difficult to follow, however, so things need to be worded on paper or in pictures depending on the student. (and shown kinetically, by example.)

DandelionFireworks & buryuntime,

Thank you very much for replying. DandelionFireworks, you are right, I should ask the students I tutor. buryuntime, that was a very insightful thing you did by commenting on the classroom surroundings. I never thought of that.

Thanks again to both of you for helping me understand! =)

-Ryley