Attention Autism is an intervention approach by Speech and Language Therapist Gina Davies which aims to work on the early fundamentals of language including awareness of others, attention, listening, shared attention, switching attention and turn-taking. It supports all learners that are working on these specific skills, not just those diagnosed with Autism.
The format for the session works in up to 4 stages. You start children at Stage 1 and build up to all 4 stages as they progress. My class are up to 3 stages.
Stage 1: Attention Grabber / Bucket
Stage 2: Attention Builder
Stage 3: Shifting Attention / Turn Taking
In this blog I will share links to what I have included in my session this week;
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Watch FULL VIDEO of this session here: https://www.instagram.com/p/C5akH0eMxNW/
Stage 1
I always pick three items from the bucket that will grab my student’s interest and attention in this section.
3. Bubble Timer
You can purchase the bucket and starter set here: https://www.exploreyoursenses.co.uk/attention-autism-jordans-bucket-kit-1.html?code=65f045c153edc
Stage 2
This section is all about supporting your students to hold attention.
The 'How's the Weather?' song is a great one for teaching signs in a sensory way.
I sing the repetitive verse and have a sensory item representing each weather type to show.
Stage 3
This section is about supporting your students to shift focus from one person to another an back again. It also involves turn taking practise and waiting for your turn.
This is another super simple and cheap activity.
Grab an umbrella and a spray bottle filled with water. Each child in turn sits under a spinning umbrella as the lead adult sprays water over it. Clear umbrellas work really well as you can watch the drips running down.
(wheels on the bus tune) Uh oh it's raining on you, raining on you, raining on you, Uh oh it's raining on you, all day long.
Then you can ask the child if they would like 'one more or finish'. Afterwards it is another child's turn.
We finish our session by all signing and singing the finishing song, before I ask them to check their schedules and we move on.