Strategies teachers can use to overcome "learned helplessness"

What are some strategies teachers can use to overcome learned helplessness?

It is important for teachers to give their students a voice but teachers need to recognize that that some students may have gained a learned helplessness. If teachers notice this developing they need to use the strategies below to overcome learned helplessness:

• Build a daily expectation of communication through specific activities such as choosing the activity during recess, picking a book to read, or identifying where to eat lunch
• Construct a brief daily report to parents that is communicated by the student
• Allow natural consequences to occur and provide avenues for repair. This includes setups that alter the environment to provide less support or sabotage.
• Provide for choice making whenever possible that requires the student to use his or her augmentative communication system
• Provide powerful phrases on the device for students to reject or protest something