Implementing Work Systems across the School Day: Increasing Engagement in Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders

ABSTRACT

Work systems provide visual information and organization for students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and assist in increasing on-task behavior and productivity while simultaneously decreasing adult prompting. Work systems are a core component of the Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication-Handicapped Children comprehensive treatment model for individuals with ASD. Work systems are used in school settings to facilitate student understanding of adult expectations, promote task completion, help with organizational skills, sequencing abilities, and increase flexibility. Work systems also support skill generalization and have been implemented successfully across school and work settings. The authors provide a review of the research supporting the use of work systems, a rationale for implementation and a description of implementation steps, and examples of application with students across age ranges and ability levels.

KEYWORDS:

• autism spectrum disorders
• on-task behavior and productivity
• TEACCH treatment model
• work systems