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All children and young adults require support during times of stress and uncertainty, such as the one we are facing now with the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. It is one of the essential teaching counseling skills of inclusive classroom teachers to help the children understand the changes and process their feelings in a better way. Individuals with autism may need additional support to process the news and adapt to the many changes that are happening around, as they may not have a clear understanding of the occurrences.

With greater chances of anxiety and depression for autism children, the following are some of the key student counseling techniques to meet the unique needs of individuals with autism during this period of uncertainty that can be communicated to them by the teachers through online classes, chat messaging, video calling, etc.

• Describe the virus and current situation (e.g. closures, social distancing) in simple terms and language, avoiding flowery or abstract phrasing.
   
• Use a social narrative, visual supports to offer guidance on coronavirus specific actions and behaviors.
   
• Provide adequate Opportunities for Expression - Children and young adults will likely have difficulty expressing how they feel about the many unexpected changes; hence this can be taken care through family and individual discussions, writing activities, or play.
   
• Prioritize Coping and Calming Skills - these may include rocking in a rocking chair, listening to music on headphones, deep breathing, watching a preferred video clip, brief vigorous exercises, or doing a favourite activity.
   
• Maintain Routines - Individuals with autism may cope best when daily routines are only minimally interrupted. Routines can provide increased comfort for individuals with autism (Faherty, 2008) and may allow them to better express their feelings related to the changes. For example, Sleep/wake routines, Household chores/daily living skills.
   
• Foster Connections (From a Distance) - As discussed earlier, individuals with autism are more prone to social isolation and loneliness, and this may be worsened by quarantine conditions. Teacher counselors ensure that they maintain steady communication with these special children through various uses of technology.