Back to school is always a transition. When you have an Aspie kid, or any other special needs kiddo I think it's more than that. School is hard for these kids. Between sensory overload, peer issues & anxiety it's usually not a great 1st week for us or them. A new school, new schedule & new teachers add more variables. Variables are kryptonite for these kids. Here are a few tips to help everyone get off to a great start!
PARENTS:
Start your child on their new schedule a week or more out.
Tour their new school. During registration, orientation or call the school & ask for a tour. We've done this & it's a GREAT thing!! It takes away a ton of 1st day anxiety when the kids know where to go the 1st day.
Expect 1st day issues. Wake up in plenty of time to handle the multiple tantrums/meltdowns you know are coming.
Preparing clothes & lunches the night before helps YOU the next morning.
I send a letter/email to the teachers. Usually before if I know who they are. I send a picture of Reid, describe his issues & what they mean/look like. It also includes our contact info & a little encouragement. We are a team & I like them to know that I expect the best out of Reid & so should they. I always include that having the combination of Tourette's & Asperger creates a unique set of issues. *I especially include his new tic info. A sub once thought he was making a noise for entertainment purposes & he got in trouble.
If a uniform, new shoes or clothes are involved we wear them 2 weeks before school starts off & on throughout the day to get used to them. You Momma's that have kids with sensory issues, this is a life saver!!! Tags, sock lines, new shoes, jeans, shorts & itchy clothes are NOT a thing to introduce the morning of. Ask me how I know that. #1stgrade1stdaynightmares
If your kid is riding the bus call the bus depot. I've always been met with the most caring people willing to help. They need to know your child's issues as well. They'll have your kid at least 20 minutes if not more a day. Sitting at the front or providing a buddy are just some of the things they can do. I haven't talked to a bus driver yet that wasn't happy I included them. *If you can't get a hold of someone before school, passing a note to them the morning of with a small gift is a GREAT idea too!!
TEACHERS:
Before school starts do a little research on Aspergers & other special needs children. Pinterest has a TON of ideas on classrooms tips & tricks. I'm also including some helpful links below.
I'm sure you can see these kids coming the 1st day. They're the ones with the clasped hands, looking like a bomb will explode any minute. Fidgeting uncontrollably. Their tics might include throat clearing, coughing, sniffling, exaggerated arm or head movements. These are all exacerbated when stress is high. And their stress IS high. Introducing yourself & offering a kind smile & a little encouragement will work wonders.
Share the small successes with us & your student. In elementary school Reid had a particularly great day. I can remember his teacher running to the car with tears streaming down her face SO proud. She had every right to be proud. She had gone above & beyond what a teacher should to work with him. I'm grateful to this day for her.
Most Aspies are visual learners. One teacher put Reid's schedule on his desk in pictures. Saved our life. And his sanity.
If you see an Aspie staring off into space, don't assume they're not listening. Most Aspies do not make eye contact or even visual contact with who they're listening to.
Be aware of sensory issues. Reid sat right by a clock one time & couldn't concentrate because the ticking was so loud. The teacher moved the clock. Super easy. On the other end of that spectrum, sometimes Aspies tap a pencil, their foot or drum on a table to get the overload of anxiety out. One teacher allowed Reid to stand up & move freely for a few minutes.
Transitions are rough for these kids. Reid was given 2 minutes at the end of class to prepare for the next class. Quietly. The teacher tapped him on the shoulder lightly, their signal that it was time for him to put his books away, look at his schedule & begin transitioning for the next class.
Here are a few more ideas. We can't be perfect. But these tips & tricks help provide a great base for all of us to begin. The more we know the more we can all be on the same page. The same team. Prayers for a great school year!!
http://www.wrongplanet.net/article412.html
http://www.myaspergerschild.com/2011/09/parents-letter-to-teachers-assisting.html
http://life-with-aspergers.blogspot.com/2011/01/writing-introductory-letter-for-your.html
http://www.suelarkey.com/Tip_Sheets.php
http://www.wikihow.com/Go-Back-to-School-With-Someone-with-Asperger's
