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;
*The links below are affiliate links, it means I get paid a commission for sharing, it is costs you no more. Win Win. Thank you! This helps support sharing so much information for free on my blog and social media accounts.
Watch FULL VIDEO of this session here: https://www.instagram.com/p/C5dJ5YnsMr7/
Stage 1
I always pick three items from the bucket that will grab my student’s interest and attention in this section.
1. Squishy Fish
All of these items, the bucket and more are included 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.
Elefun is such a great game! It comes with nets, great for a stage 3 activity, but for stage two we just enjoy watching the butterflies spraying all over the room from the elephants trunk!
Purchase on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/4aszF5U
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.
Grab a few jungle animal puppets and a water spray bottle.
(Down in the Jungle tune)
Each child selects which animal they would like to spray from a choosing board, speech, signing, AAC or simply choosing between two actual puppets (depending on ability and speech preference)
They can then ask for 'more' or their turn has finished and it is someone else'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.
Watch FULL VIDEO of this session here: https://www.instagram.com/p/C5dJ5YnsMr7/