Learned Helplessness

There are many strategies teachers can use to overcome learned helplessness. 

1) Form a daily expectation of communication through specific activities such as picking the activity during recess, picking a book to read, or choosing where to eat lunch.

2) Create a short daily report that the student shares with their parents.

3) When the student does something, allow natural consequences to happen and provide ways to help them fix their mistake.

4) Allow the student to use their augmentative communication system to make choices whenever possible.

5) Give the student phrases on their device so they are able to reject or protest something.

Reference:
 Dell, A., Newtown, D., & Petroff, J. (2012). Assistive Technology in the Classroom.
               Upper Saddle River, NJ. Pearson Education Inc.