How I Reached a Shy Student to Learn About What They Know.

Two years ago, I received a new student in my class. I taught a kindergarten through second grade Autism SDC.  This kid was in kindergarten.  He had some speech, but would use it to hum or sing songs.  His father would always sing to him.  This student was also Echolalic.  His mother would always tell me how smart he was.  It was just hard for me to see what he could do because he never wanted to do any work.  He would just sit with his head tilted down.  His mother once told me that at home, he would only write with a dry erase marker and on a dry erase board.  So, I thought to myself, "Ok.  I will modify his handwriting lesson."  I started him off on a dry erase board.  Next, I let him write with a large crayon on paper that was placed on a mini dry erase board.  Then, I gradually moved to a beginner's pencil.  It worked!  The student eventually started writing with a regular size pencil.  His handwriting was neat too. Wow! 
On the rug during circle time and other academic lessons, this student would sit quietly with his head tilted down.  One day, I was teaching the students about patterns.  After presenting my lesson, I sent the students to work in their groups.  I had this student stay on the rug.  I was determined to make this student work and show me what he could do.  So, I pulled my chair close to him and sat in front of him with some bear counters.  That didn't work, because he would not look up.  So, I thought to myself for a moment.  I sat down on the floor right in front of him and slid each bear counter under him and in his view.  What do you know!  This student started working on the two colored pattern with me.  He did great!  Wow!  After working on a few lessons down at his level and in his view, his head began to gradually rise over the days.  He was starting to feel more confident and comfortable. 
As educators, we have to be creative and literally get down to the students' levels, to find ways to reach our students.  We have to work with their comfort levels and teach them according to their learning styles.  Every child is capable of learning.  It's just a matter of how information is presented to them.