News and Events

Ready, Set, Go to School!

September 3, 2010

By Evelyn Horton, M.Ed., BCBA

We think of the leisurely days of summer from our childhood and many of us remember long days of playing outside with the neighborhood kids, hours at the pool, sleepovers, visiting family, and going on vacation. As much as we might have been ready for a break from the routine and requirements on our time that the school year brings, for many children with autism the loss of structure, routine and a predictable schedule is difficult. Three months later, adjustments have been made and expectations have been changed. Then school starts again and it is time to get back into the swing of things. With busy hectic lives it is easy to feel you can barely get done what is needed to in one day, let alone get a head start on the next day. By putting some simple tools in place and actively teaching a few skills is possible to have great beginnings to many days. Here are few tips for getting READY and SET so we can GO TO SCHOOL!

Here are some tips for teachers and family members to help make the transitions easier:

Teach mini-routines. So many things we do as adults, we do simply by following our routine. Do you shower or shave in the same order each day? Mini-routines are the way we get through repeated tasks without having to engage mentally in each step. They also tend to have a calming influence, especially when other things are chaotic or unpredictable. By teaching the child with autism to do morning self skills with some routines in place can increase both the level of independence and efficiency in which the task is completed.

- Kellen watches a video tape of a sibling brushing her teeth in a very systematic way as he brushes his. She points to her left lower side and then brushes them while the video counts to 10. Kellen does the same thing. She continues through all parts of tooth brushing including wiping out the sink when she is finished. Kellen brushes his teeth better than he has ever done it with verbal prompts and cleans the sink as well! Soon Kellen won't need the video; he will have the routine in place as well as mentally counting to ten while he brushes each area.

- Eva's bedtime routine includes prepping for tomorrow's school day. Because finding her shoes is a often a hair-raising event for her, placing her shoes near the end of her bed is as much a part of her bedtime routine as kissing mom and dad goodnight.

Use a schedule or checklist of what needs to be done to be ready for school. Make sure this is grown up enough to match the child's skills. For some it may require pictures of each step, but for others, who don't need each step lined out, it may only include markers along the way and may be in writing. For the child who doesn't need to use a schedule for each piece, but has trouble staying on task or getting ready in a timely manner there may be a time component to the list.

- Jackson's list is broken down into sets of two to three steps to getting ready. He needs to have breakfast eaten and his dishes in the dishwasher by 6:50. His goal is to get his clothes on and his teeth brushed by 7:00. His back pack should be ready and by the door by 7:10. He earns tokens for each timeline he meets and can turn in the token for computer time later, but he is also reinforced simply by meeting the deadlines.

- Daniel has been trained to follow his morning bathroom routine. An organizer made from a bag that hangs on the back of a door to hold shoes is used to arrange the objects he uses. A washcloth reminds him to wash his face. The toothpaste and tooth brush are next in the bag so that he brushes his teeth next. His hair gel and comb are in the third pocket. By learning to start at the top and go from left to right, he can accomplish each of the self-care tasks without a great deal of verbal prompting.

About The Homestead

The Homestead is a private, non-profit organization that provides innovative solutions for children and adults with autism, their families and allied professionals. Services are provided in the community, in homes and in a unique agriculture based campus program. Autism is a neurological disorder that severely hinders the way information is gathered and processed causing problems in communication, learning and social skills. It occurs in roughly 1 of every 110 births.