People go to school for several years to answer this question. However, the most important things to teach autistic children are to communicate and manage the social aspects of life.

There are different theories on how children with autism should be taught to communicate. If children are ecolalic, then using an applied behavior analysis approach to teaching should be used. In this approach, children are shown an object that they desire and told the name. The teacher then says “What do you want?” When the child names the object, wither with ecolalia or just the word, it is given to him. This becomes more complex as the child increases his or her spoken vocabulary. It works very well.

Picture Exchange System – Non-verbal Au children are taught to use pictures to communicate their needs. The drawback is that it never really gets to any kind of actual conversation.

Sign Language – Children who are non verbal can also be taught to sign, but it is a higher form of communication than the picture system. These tend to be higher functioning kids.

Social skills – None of the children on the autism spectrum can function socially without being specifically taught. Read Scott Bellini’s book, Building Social Relationships, A Systematic Approach to Teaching Social Interaction Skills to Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders if you want to know how to do this.

In my best judgment, only if a human is directly assisting the autistic child while using the computer in various ways to assist the effort. And then likely limited to cases where there has been sufficient advancement in learning. The whole problem with autistic children is they do not relate well to other people and cannot concentrate realistically on the world about them. It is crucial to draw them out by extnesive person-to-person interaction and requires talented people who like this kind of work — A LOT OF WORK that only has small payouts in the early stages. As science uncovers the nature of the brain misfunctions in these children some more miraculous interventions may be possible, but still to assist the foregoing processes. So. a computer is useful, but not alone unless the child is virtually recovered. Speaking computers with a human face on the screen may also be helpful in various ways — do not rule out its use as a tool, even in this area.

As a mother of three autistic children this question is right up my alley.

If you are a parent trying to teach the child. The best advice I was ever given was by a speech pathologist. If the child has isolated his/herself for more than fifteen minutes. You must interupt their play/work. Just participate with them. They won’t be happy at first. But as we found out. After doing this everyday for a month. Our children would start to come and get us to be with them.

If you are a teacher asking this question. Remember every autistic child is completely different. You will have to meet their sensory needs before teaching them anything. You might have one child who can not stand a certain sound and a different child who makes that sound because it is soothing to them.

A lot of it is trial and error. There is NOT just one way to teach an autistic child. All three of mine have completely different methods of learning.

With alot of patience and consistency, I’ve found if you find out what they see as a reward (drawing, playing with certain toys etc) and rewarding small steps, you’ll see progress, but once again PATIENCE and be CONSISTANT!

Just don’t let them isolate themselves ex: force them to eat dinner with you, if you find that they watch tv or read comics and begin making funny faces or acting weird that isn’t good and can lead to violence.Whenever you find themselves in there fantadsy world tickle them and tell them you love them or something.The main thing is don’t let them get into there own little world.

Patience, devotion & repetition

With a lot of patience.

Check with your doctor-many resources and help you can get from your community.