Strategies, ideas, and resources for easing a child into new routines
by Randi Sargent, parent and assistive technology (AT) advocate
For many of us who support students with special needs, back to school either
comes too quickly or not quickly enough. After a summer of relaxed schedules
and vacations, we need to prepare our kids for "back to school" and
for our kids who rely on assistive technologies, this involves more than a trip
to Target for markers and paper. Read on to learn about visual strategies and
low-tech assistive technology tools you can use to help kids transition
smoothly to a classroom and minimize back-to-school anxiety.
Create Visuals to Illustrate New School Routines
Visual supports, such as schedules and people locators, help kids with special
needs get back into or learn a new school routine. These can be made in
low-tech ways using magazine pictures, photos and picture symbols from Boardmaker or
other free sources. To familiarize a child with a new environment, get or take
pictures of the teacher, classroom, cafeteria, bathroom, gym, playground, and
other key areas around school. Use these to introduce the new environment and
later to make the daily classroom visual schedule. For purchase, there are even pre-made bracelets available with classroom routine
symbols! Parents can make wearable/changeable schedules that shows daily after
school activities and therapies.
To teach or remind a child of a new or task-specific routine, create
picture-based mini-schedules. For example, consider their new morning routine
and create a mini-schedule with symbols and pictures. What tasks does the child
need to complete to get out the door in the morning? This might include
toileting, dressing, eating breakfast, washing up, donning their coat
/backpack, and taking the bus. Depending on the child's level of independence,
you may need to break down the routine into large or small tasks. Time Timer is
a classic visual-aid product used in classrooms to help students understand the
passing of time. Store visuals in portable
wallets and communication books so your student has their visual
reminders or communication aids with them at all times.
Some students stress about where family members are during the day while they
are at school. Use family photos to create "people locators" showing
where Dad or Mom will be during the day or who will be home with them after
school. They can refer to this visual for re-assurance and hopefully avoid
asking the same questions over and over.
Communicating Personal and Social Information
Any child facing a new teacher and peers needs to introduce them self. For
children with special needs who have impaired communication, low-tech AT can
help make a successful introduction. A Talking Photo Album is a great tool for using
pictures, text, and voice to create an "About Me" book to show
classmates their interests, abilities, and assistive technologies they use. It
can be especially helpful as an introduction for a new teacher. For ideas on
what to include in a teacher information packet, see the article on preparing
the school for your child at the About.com link below and adapt these for a
visual version. Students love to show pictures of their vacations and favorite
things making a Talking Photo Album a great way to socialize with peers.
Read Social Stories Together
Stories about going to school offer important lessons for all children. Popular
characters such as Arthur, Franklin, and the Berenstain Bears all have their
concerns and questions about new teachers and making friends. See the link
below for a recommended list of social stories you can share with your child in
a comfortable, non-stressful way. Kids may want to read these over and over.
Make Back to School Fun
Plan a special trip to get your child with special needs involved in purchasing
their school supplies. Use symbols or pictures to make a visual back to school
shopping list. See the links below for free printables of back-to-school
coloring activities and games.
With some planning and preparation on the part of parents and teachers, visual
strategies and low-tech assistive technology can help students of all ages get
back into the school routine and start the new school year with confidence.
Learn more from these resources:
- Back to School Social Stories for Young Learners (scroll down to "Recommended Resources" at this Cindy's Autistic Support page).
- Back to School Books for Older Students:
- Articles/Resources about Back to School:
- "Preparing the School for Your Child with Special Needs" (about.com)
- "Back to School Guide for Special Needs Families"
- Back to School Visual Supports:
- for sale and for free at Say It With Symbols
- Pre-made symbol-based resources using Boardmaker at Boardmaker Share
- School Supply symbols from Slater software (pdf)
Randi Sargent is a parent of a teen with multiple disabilities who uses AT throughout his day for communication, mobility, and learning. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Federation for Children with Special Needs, Boston, and is a member of the AT Advisory Council for the Massachusetts's AT Act program (MassMATCH). Sargent is the founder/owner of Say It With Symbols.
Comments