Metacognition Development in Persons with Autism

As an Executive Function Skills Coach who works with individuals with Learning Disabilities, Executive Function skill deficits, or with Autism Spectrum Disorder, I am constantly on the lookout on refining and adding to my metacognitive tool chest. These are tools which can help facilitate shifts in attitude, mindset, and/ or perspective.  To illustrate this point, consider a cruise ship. It is exceedingly long, tall, and wide, and yet, a large ship is moved by a small rudder.

It is with this instructional outcome perspective that I employ metacognitive tools, and strategies, in order to foster 'thinking about thinking skills.' Five tremendously effective ways to build metacognition are:


  1. Role-Playing using 'thinking side/ reacting side' versions to the same situation
  2. Creating visual story books whereby pertinent scenarios are played out using 'thinking side/ reacting side' versions.
  3. Walking/ Sitting with the child/ adult and having a dialogue about how to improve response/ action on relevant situations in daily life.
  4. Playing chess 
  5. For kids and adolescents: Using special parent coach cards from parentcoachcards.com
    1. These cards provide cartoon picture situations on one side, with a message on back. I customize what I say, given the child's situation. 
      1. Coach Bill does not profit from this.
Below is a research article showcasing the need to develop metcognition in person with ASD.



http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3050057/

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