Back to School Tips for Children with Autism

Children With Autism

Heading back to school can be both exciting and challenging for children of all ages and abilities. For example, while they may be excited about seeing their friends again or learning new things, each academic year brings new challenges.

Children with autism and related disorders, however, are more likely to encounter challenges during school than their neurotypical peers. For example, a recent study found that “74% of autistic students in the U.S. graduate with a diploma, versus 86% of all students.”

However, this does not mean that your child is not capable of great things or excelling in school. You simply need to ensure that the right accommodations are put in place to allow them to thrive both academically and socially.

With that in mind, here are some useful back-to-school tips for children with autism!

Tour the Classroom Ahead of Time

Students with autism and related disorders are more likely to thrive in environments they feel comfortable in. As such, you should reach out to the school to see if they can tour their new classroom (or classrooms) ahead of time so that they can familiarize themselves with this space. This way, they don’t feel quite as overwhelmed on the first day of school.

Meet with Their Teachers

Meeting your student’s teachers ahead of time is also incredibly worthwhile, especially if they have not taught your child before. After all, while they may have previous experience in supporting neurodiverse children, no two children experience autism in the same way. As such, discussing your child’s specific needs with their teacher can allow them to put the particular provisions in place to support them.

Encourage Your Child to Advocate for Themselves

One way you can ensure your child has the best possible experience at school is by encouraging them to advocate for themselves and ask for help when needed. For example, if your child deals with sensory issues, then you should encourage them to let their teachers know when they are overwhelmed and need to move to a less over-stimulating environment. This can help prevent negative behaviors while ensuring their needs are met.

Read Social Stories

If your child is starting school for the first time, they may benefit from reading social stories about Autism that help them to better prepare for the changes that come alongside this. For example, you may find the following social stories useful:
  • Going To a New School
  • Recess
  • Transitioning To the Bus

Discuss School in Therapy

Discussing school and the challenges they may face during this important period in their life with your child’s therapist can also be useful. For example, suppose they are attending ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis). In that case, their therapist can help them develop a range of effective coping mechanisms that will allow them to thrive in any environment. Alternatively, a speech therapist can help them improve their communication skills to better convey their needs to their teachers and make friends with other students.

If you’d like to learn more about our therapy services, please do not hesitate to get in touch today.

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