5 Strategies to Help Your Autistic Student with Executive Functioning
- Sean McCormick
- Aug 28, 2023
- 7 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
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Autistic students often face unique challenges with organization, focus, and self-management.
In this post, I share 5 strategies to help autistic students strengthen executive function skills and thrive both in and out of the classroom. 👇
Table of Contents
Are you a parent or educator grappling with how to best support a student with autism?
Do you find yourself wondering why your child or student struggles with tasks that seem straightforward to others?
Is the challenge of managing time, emotions, or even simple day-to-day activities becoming a roadblock to academic and social growth?
If you've found yourself asking any of these questions, you're not alone.
Navigating the complex landscape of autism can be a challenging endeavor, especially when it intersects with issues related to executive functioning.
In this article, we'll explore the specific executive function skills that many autistic children struggle with, delve into real-life scenarios they might face in various educational settings, and 5 strategies help them succeed.
What Executive Function Skills Do Autistic Students Struggle With?
Autistic children often face unique challenges in various areas of executive functioning, although it's important to remember that each child is different.
Common difficulties include:
While not all autistic children will struggle in every area, these are frequent challenges may require targeted support and interventions from parents and healthcare providers.
If you prefer a video on this topic, check out my YouTube video on Autism & Executive Dysfunction in Students.
What Are Scenarios That Autistic Students Struggle in as it Relates to School?
Middle School
Middle school students with autism may find everyday tasks like remembering locker combinations or navigating to different classrooms overwhelming.
The jump from elementary school often involves juggling multiple teachers and classrooms, requiring increased organization and time management skills.
For guidance on how to support your child's transition to middle school, check out my article 17 Strategies to Support Your Child with ADHD When They Transition From Elementary to Middle School.
Social situations, like figuring out where to sit during lunch or how to participate in group projects, can also present challenges.
These issues can compound the anxiety and emotional regulation difficulties often faced by autistic children.
High School
High school brings a more complex class schedule and greater academic expectations.
Autistic students may struggle with initiating and completing long-term projects or multi-page essays.
There's also increased pressure to succeed academically while navigating social landscapes, like prom or extracurricular activities.
These social events can be stress-inducing and confusing, requiring nuanced social skills and emotional regulation that may not come naturally.
College
In college, the challenges often center around self-directed learning and increased personal responsibility.
Autistic students may struggle to manage their own study schedule without the regular reminders and structure that come with K-12 schooling.
Sensory overload can be a real concern, especially in large lecture halls or busy campus centers.
Additionally, long lectures may demand sustained focus and efficient note-taking skills, which can be challenging for students who struggle with attention and working memory.
5 Strategies to Help Your Autistic Student with Executive Functioning
Strategy #1: Build Predictable Routines and Clear Structures
Autistic students thrive on predictability.
Establishing consistent routines helps reduce anxiety and supports smoother transitions between tasks.
When students know what to expect, they can focus on the task rather than managing uncertainty.
For example, you can use a daily visual schedule showing each class or activity in order.
To make this easy for you to setup with your student, you can download my ideal week template to visually lay out your student's week and what their ideal week would look like.
When a change occurs, like an assembly, update the schedule visually and verbally in advance so the student can prepare mentally.
Strategy #2: Teach Emotional Regulation Strategies
Emotional regulation is a key executive function skill that many autistic students find difficult.
Teaching students how to recognize and manage their emotions can prevent meltdowns and improve focus.
For example, you can incorporate short mindfulness exercises, such as breathing with a visual cue (like a balloon inflating and deflating).
Or, provide a “calm-down corner” with sensory tools like noise-canceling headphones or weighted lap pads to help students reset when overwhelmed.
Other ways to teach emotional regulation can include:
Modeling calm responses to frustration so students can observe and imitate appropriate reactions
Using social stories to help students understand emotional triggers and appropriate coping strategies
Practicing labeling emotions with visual emotion charts to build emotional vocabulary and self-awareness
Incorporating sensory breaks like stretching, fidget tools, or short walks to reduce overwhelm before it escalates.
Teaching problem-solving scripts, such as “Stop, Breathe, Think, Act,” to guide students through stressful situations.
Strategy #3: Use Visual Supports to Strengthen Planning and Organization
Visual aids help make abstract executive function concepts like time, sequencing, and prioritizing more concrete.
They can bridge the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it.
For example, you can create a color-coded homework checklist or visual planner, by downloading this student dashboard template, that shows upcoming assignments, due dates, and completion status.
Pair this with a visual timer to help students see how much time they have left for each task.
Strategy #4: Seek Executive Function Coaching Support
Executive function coaching can offer targeted strategies to help autistic children navigate daily challenges.
Many coaches use methods such as visual aids, timers, and structured environments, helping autistic children build essential skills, often in a one-on-one setting tailored to their individual needs.
This personalized approach allows for real-time feedback and adjustment, fostering autonomy and confidence.
Over time, coaching can lead to significant improvements in academic performance, social interactions, and overall well-being, equipping autistic children with the tools they need for more independent living and school management.
If you think your student or child will benefit from executive function coaching, book an inquiry call with our team of EF Specialists.
Strategy #5: Scaffold Independence Gradually
Scaffolding means providing structured support to help students learn new skills, then slowly removing that support as they gain confidence and ability.
Autistic students often need guided practice before they can complete tasks independently.
Gradual scaffolding where adults fade supports over time helps them develop confidence while still feeling supported.
For example, you can start by modeling how to break a large project into smaller steps.
Next, complete the first few steps together.
Then, encourage the student to plan the remaining steps using a visual checklist, checking in only when needed.
Over time, this approach builds lasting independence and self-reliance.
FAQs
How do I know if my autistic student needs executive function support?
If your student often forgets assignments, struggles to start tasks, or becomes overwhelmed by transitions, these are signs they may need executive function support.
Early intervention through structured routines or coaching can make a significant difference in their confidence and performance.
What’s the difference between executive function coaching and therapy?
Executive function coaching focuses on teaching practical, skill-based strategies for organization, time management, and task completion.
Therapy, on the other hand, addresses emotional and behavioral challenges.
Many families find that using both together provides the most balanced support.
How can I reinforce these strategies at home or in the classroom?
Consistency is key.
Use the same visual systems, checklists, and emotional regulation techniques across environments.
When parents and teachers apply similar strategies, students internalize them faster and build independence more effectively.
The Bottom Line
Small, intentional steps can create lasting change in the lives of your Autistic student or child.
Here’s a quick recap of the 5 strategies to help:
Build predictable routines and clear structures
Teach emotional regulation strategies
Use visual supports to strengthen planning and organization
Seek executive function coaching support
Scaffold independence gradually
Hope this helps 🤙🏻
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P.S. If you want to work on executive function skills with your students, consider joining hundreds of other educators and parents who have completed my Semester Success Blueprint Course. In less than 2 hours, this comprehensive course will teach you and your student the system I developed to help hundreds of students learn how to manage school effectively and raise their self-awareness and engagement with school.
About Me
Hey! I'm Sean 👋
I'm a former public school special education teacher who realized that executive function skills are more important than knowing when George Washington crossed the Potomac.
Since then, I've made it my mission to teach anyone who will listen about how to develop these key life skills.
In 2020, I founded Executive Function Specialists to ensure all students with ADHD and Autism have access to high-quality online executive function coaching services. We offer online EF coaching and courses to help students and families.
Realizing I could only reach so many people through coaching, in 2021 I started the Executive Function Coaching Academy which trains schools, educators, and individuals to learn the key strategies to improve executive function skills for students.
In 2023, I co-founded of UpSkill Specialists, to provide neurodivergent adults with high-quality executive function coaching services.
When not pursuing my passions through work, I love spending time with my family, getting exercise, and growing my brain through reading. You can connect with me on LinkedIn.
Want me to speak on executive function skills at your event? Learn more about my speaking topics here.