ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on teaching ‘emotional’ skills. It has been purposely set aside to emphasise the importance the AFFECTS process places on the emotional development and the emotional well-being of children with ASD. AFFECTS recognises that children with autism need to be taught specific skills for coping with the emotional side of their lives. Most typically developing children can be flexible. They cope well when changes occur in family and school life, such as:
• the order in which people use the bathroom
• what is eaten for breakfast
• which clothes are clean and wearable
• the routes taken to school
• the school hall is painted green
• the class teacher is off sick
• a magician visits the school
• CCTV cameras are fitted around the site.
