Early Intervention for Children with ASD
Examples of Student Levels for Differentiated Instruction
Early Learner
- May not have verbal language, has
emerging sign/PECs skills
Emerging Learner
- Emerging verbal skills (imitates single
words & short phrases)
- May still be learning imitation, matching
& attending skills; emphasis on choicemaking & communication targets
- Attends to tasks independently for a
brief period of time
- Can imitate, match and sort
- Emphasis on building a consistent
communication system, participation,
attending skills & social interaction with
adult
- May require frequent reinforcement
- Considerations: Child will require
prompting and support in many/most
activities; can involve peers as supports;
must use consistent visual supports
- Emphasis on communication, social
interaction with adult or peer & building
pre-academic skills
- Less frequent reinforcement is required
to maintain behavior
- Considerations: Child may require
some redirection and prompting but is
gaining more independence; can involve
peers as supports; use consistent visual
supports
“START Project Materials 2012”
Kindergarten Readiness Learner
- Speaks in short phrases or sentences
- Demonstrates fairly consistent attending
skills
- Emphasis on expanding communication
skills, social, play & pre-academic skills
- Preparing for transition to less restrictive
placement
- Considerations: Emphasis on
socialization and independence but some
prompting may be needed; should use
visual supports, as needed, to encourage
independence in activities