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Updated on 07/07/2020.

Fact-checked by Vincenza De Falco, Autism & Learning Disabilities Specialist Coach

Children with autism require extra attention when it comes to education. They learn at their own pace and often require loads of visual and audio cues to learn new ideas. They may also face various issues related to communication and social interactions.

Plus, most children with autism have individual needs and sensitivities that must be considered when it comes to teaching them. For all these reasons, parents can use all the help they can get when it comes to the education of their autistic child.

So, whether you choose to homeschool your child or enroll them in a school, hiring a private tutor can help big time. Regardless of where your child is on the autism spectrum, autism tutoring can benefit them in multiple ways. The private tutor will always accommodate your child’s needs.

Eventually, they will be able to build a strong and trustful bond with the child. Once the child feels relaxed and comfortable in their company, they can help them improve their communication skills, behavioral skills, and emotional skills, while also focusing on academic learning.

All in all, hiring a private tutor for your child can help you solve a number of issues. In fact, according to a study at the University of Southampton, one-on-one tutoring can help enhance the IQ in autistic kids, especially younger children. The only problem is that it is not always easy to find the right tutor.

Most parents employ and discharge multiple tutors before finally finding the right private tutor for their autistic child. Luckily, you can skip this trial-and-error method and find the ideal private tutor for your child by keeping the following basic factors in mind.

Qualifications and Certification

The private tutor that you are considering for your autistic child must be qualified for the job. Look for tutors who specialize in teaching children with autism or other special needs.

It is advisable to look for tutors who have received training in dealing with children with special needs and providing quality education to them.

Also, don’t forget to inquire if they possess any other special training or certification that they may help them teach an autistic child.

You can also inquire about their teaching license. However, it is important to note that the teaching license is not mandatory. In fact, some private schools, as well as daycares, don’t require tutors to have a license.

So, it is okay if the tutor you are considering doesn’t possess a license to teach in your state. However, it is a big plus if they do!

Check out the Tutor’s Personal Background

Whether your child has special needs or not, it is essential to check out the background of a tutor before booking a lesson. Keep in mind that your child will spend a lot of time with their private tutor.

This makes it essential to learn as much about them as possible. Ask them questions like why they decided to become a tutor for special needs children.

Engage them in conversation to gauge if the tutor is comfortable and confident about the task ahead. You can also start by learning about their academic history.

Inquire if they have a degree in special education. However, just like the teaching license, having a degree in special education is not a must but a huge added bonus.

What’s more important is that the tutor has experience with special needs children, especially younger children. So, take the time to learn about their professional background.

Check out the Tutor’s Professional Background

Take the time to learn about the professional background of the private tutor you are considering for your autistic child. This is one of the most important things to consider, as it will make a huge impact on how effectively they can teach. Here’s a list of some questions that you must ask them.

Do you have any prior experience dealing with special needs children?

Do you have any prior experience teaching autistic children in particular?

Are you teaching any other students currently?

How long have you been teaching special needs children?

Such inquiries will give you a good idea about the professional background of the tutor. Based on their response, you can decide to book a lesson or continue your search for the ideal private tutor for your autistic child.

Inquire About their Teaching Style 👨‍🏫

It is important to understand that every child is different when it comes to learning. While some children respond better to visual or audio approaches, others may benefit more from a kinesthetic approach. As a parent, you may already have some idea about how well your child responds to the different teaching styles.

So, make sure you inquire with the tutor about their teaching style. Even if you are not sure which teaching style works best for your child, it is still an important topic that you must discuss before hiring a private tutor for lessons.

Personal Traits to Look for in a Private Tutor for Autistic Children

A good private tutor for autistic children will always be willing to go the extra mile to help the child learn and grow. They are compassionate and are concern about the overall wellbeing of the child. Patience is another thing that a private tutor must possess.

Also, notice how they communicate with you. This is important because you and your child’s private tutor will have to work as a team to encourage learning, which means that you should be able to communicate openly with them and vice versa.

Finding the ideal private tutor for an autistic child may take you some time and you may not get it right on your first try. However, the search is worth your time and effort as a good tutor can make a big impact in your child’s life. If you are unable to find the right tutor, you can also search for a private tutor online.

Vincenza De Falco is an Autism & Learning Disabilities (LD) specialist coach with extensive experience working with young people with various needs in different settings. Her passion for Autism & LD started as a volunteer at a multi-functional provision for Autism whilst studying for a BA in Theatre, Education and Deaf Studies.

Throughout her career, Vincenza continues her professional development alongside working within numerous support and leadership roles in education and charities. Having gained Level 3 in Speech and Language Support, HLTA qualification, Level 3 Award in Education and Training and Level 3 CMI Coaching qualification, Vincenza has furthered her expertise within Autism & LD.

Entering the Third Sector as a Project Manager developing and delivering a specialist NEET program, she subsequently joined ThinkForward’s newest venture DFN MoveForward, supporting young people with Autism & LD to successfully transition from education into paid employment. Through 1:1 coaching, family support and training employers to become disability confident, Vincenza builds bespoke programs for young people with the end goal of work readiness and employment. Through Vincenza’s passion for creating systemic change in Disability and employment, she forms part of the successful partnership running the DFN Project Search Supported Internship at Moorfields Eye Hospital.

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