It’s Back-to-School Time
This month, thousands of children will head back to school. Many will be attending a new school, which can be nerve-wracking for any kid. For those with special needs, it can mean a whole new set of obstacles to overcome.
Our daughter Lilly, diagnosed with autism and intellectual disabilities, will be moving on to middle school this year. She had a very rough beginning at her last school; lots of explosive meltdowns as she attempted to navigate her new environment. Her teacher and school staff were extremely dedicated to helping her succeed. In time she not only adjusted but thrived. After seeing her doing well for so long, my biggest fear is that this upcoming transition will cause a regression.
Stay Ahead
We decided to be as proactive as we can in preparing her for this newest life change. Hopefully, this will make it smoother and less stressful for everyone involved. Typically, she handles new situations much better if she is well-informed beforehand, so we arranged a visit to her new school. This allowed her to meet her teacher, her future classmates, and become familiar with the classroom. It also allowed her teacher and I to brainstorm any potential triggers and scope out a possible “cool down spot” in the room for her to use when necessary.
Creating Stories Helps
Another tool in our arsenal is the social story. There are many generic templates on the internet for social stories, but Lilly tends to respond better to ones that are personalized for her. I use Microsoft Word to create her stories, and this one will include pictures of her new school, her classroom, and lots of details of what she can expect, and what will be expected of her. We plan to read this story to her often during the summer and talk about her new school as much as possible. Repetition is essential.
Expecting the Unexpected
I’m sure we will have a few hiccups as she settles into her new routine this fall; it would be unrealistic to presume otherwise. If there is one thing that parenting a child with special needs has taught me, it is to expect the unexpected. Despite the unknown, I am looking forward to watching Lilly start this new chapter and seeing what new adventures await her.
To learn more about social stories, please visit this website.
Uniquely Us is a unique opportunity to address special needs issues and concerns and to celebrate life. If you have something, in particular, you would like to read about, please write to pn@northstateparent.com (please include UU in the subject line).
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