The summer season arrives, and Wisconsin wakes up to bright sun, warm air, outdoor concerts, bike rides and walks down the street, and just maybe a little time splashing in water somewhere.
And then, even though the days are still long, notebooks, pencils, and backpacks appear on the store shelves once more. ‘Back to School’ signs have appeared, and it seems that school days are just around the corner again.
The flow of summertime and then entering the back-to-school season is part of a routine each year for many families. But for students with Autism and their families, the transition back to school may take a bit more time, effort, and consideration in order to feel routine and comfortable. There are a variety of factors that come with heading back to school.
What comes along with a new school year?
Something to keep in mind is that many changes, both large and small, can happen at the start of a school year.
Families receive messages including information about Back-to-School Night, who their child’s teacher will be, and information on transportation, lunch, and the school calendar. Families then might go to Back-to-School Night, dropping off supplies, meeting teachers, saying hello to other classmates and families, and checking out where classrooms are located. School pictures are taken, and it is busy inside the school walls once again.
It is likely that the physical spaces inside the school building may look different than last year. A classroom may not be in the same location, and there will likely be new staff to meet. The daily schedule will be different, and with a new grade-level teacher comes a different classroom experience. An educational assistant who helped in certain classrooms last year may be helping in different rooms the following year.
For students with Autism, the variety of changes that come with the start of a school year may take some extra time to process. The first week back to school includes many new transitions, whether that may be learning where things are in a grade-level classroom, what time students have lunch, which bathroom to use, or which door to go out for recess.
So many moving pieces that are all part of a bigger picture!
The first days of school are here, what are some things that parents or school staff can keep in mind?
Phew, now the time for school has arrived. New routines are underway. Those first few days might feel stressful, overwhelming, or anxiety-producing for students with Autism. But there are ways some of those uncomfortable feelings can be eased.
Help students with Autism learn the new routines. Use pictures and stories to help them know who they will see at school, where they will be going, what they will be doing. If you know their schedule, you can break things down a bit further into the steps they may need to take when entering the school or for other activities such as riding the bus or going to lunch. (eg., You will go to your classroom and see Ms. Smith, she will help you put in your lunch order, then you can sit at your desk and she will tell you what to do next.) This could even be a simple list or a few pictures of things that might be important to note.
Foreshadow things that may be coming- like if Art is on Tuesday, remind students that it is an Art day. If there is a Back-to-School Assembly at the end of the day on Friday, let them know what might happen there, and what it may look like. Giving a head’s up before things happen helps the brain have more time to process that idea.
Consider providing tools like noise-cancelling headphones, a waterbottle, or other items that a student may need to help them feel comfortable. If you are a parent and aren’t sure if something can be in a classroom at school, such as a fun spinner fidget or other item, reach out to the teacher and ask – they may be able to share ideas that they know work well in their classroom setting, too!
We must have patience. Routines take time to establish and learn. Each new school year is a little different for both adults and students! In the first few days, the spaces at school will begin to feel more familiar. New faces will become familiar. Those new routines will start to become regular routines.
What are some ideas to help ease this transition back, even before the first day of school?
Foreshadow what is to come. Use Social Stories and/or visuals to help your child know what items they will need for school, and what day school will start. Social Stories can help explain what events will lead up to the start of school, or even what the first day of school might look like. Here is an example Social Story for back to school.
Reach out to the school and ask if they can provide teachers and other pertinent staff members’ names. You can share these names with your child so they can start to be familiar with the names of any new staff members.
If you know the name of your child’s grade-level teacher or special education teacher, reach out and send them a little information on your child. Just as your child will be getting to know their new teachers, teachers will also be getting to know your child over the course of the school year!
Check to see if your school has an additional Open House/Back-to-School Night time for students with needs. They may offer a time where you can come in and say hello to teachers or get a school picture taken before the hustle and bustle of the time when other families are attending.
A new school year is a significant transition in any child’s life, but especially for a child with Autism. If information can be shared ahead of time, and they can get a little glimpse into things that are coming, and it also allows the brain more time to process.
These are just a few ideas and thoughts to consider as a new school year begins. Start with day one, and then move forward to day two. One day at a time, the new school year’s routines and rhythms won’t be so new.
We want to thank Alyssa Hingeveld for sharing her time, expertise, and perspective with us, along with practical strategies to help students with Autism feel supported and set up for success as we begin a new school year.
