Just like the pieces of any puzzle, kids on the spectrum are different. So why is it so many of them are placed into the same classroom or held to the same standards? Some kids love to read, although they may have to stand to do it. Some kids would rather do just about anything else than read. Some of them wander, some of them do not. Some of them hate to be touched, some of them are comforted by it. The list goes on and on...
As a parent of a child on the spectrum, it is easy to get overwhelmed both with the situation itself and by the wealth of information available on the subject. What has worked for my family is really defining my son's likes and dislikes, his strengths and weaknesses and then go from there. Take notes about everything.
** Do certain foods make my child act differently? Could it be an allergy? Will your child not
eat certain foods? Why? color, texture, strong smell/taste?
** If your child is acting out in a particular classroom or at the same time every day, look at the
environment...is the sun shining on his/her desk? is there a radiator or fluorescent light
making noise? Is the teacher wearing perfume? Does the desk not sit level? This is the time
to think outside the box. If your child is verbal...ask him/her if there is something that is
irritating to them.
** If your child has trouble sitting still, what kinds of things will help comfort him/her? Explore
fidget balls, scratchy material mounted under the desk, a weighted blanket, or whatever works
for your child to calm their sensory issues.
Find and work with an occupational therapist with experience with kids on the spectrum to
determine what works for your child.
** What if your child wanders? Are they able to give information to strangers? Are they able
to keep themselves safe from accidents in traffic, etc.? What safety measures can you put
in place in your home (alarms on doors, locks with keys, etc.) and in your neighborhood
(notify first responders with picture ID and vital information, notify neighbors). Consider
having your child wear a medical ID bracelet. First responders are trained to react to these.
If your child is in school, what is the school's protocol for wandering children?
** How does my child learn? Some children learn by reading, and some learn by doing. This is
whether they are on the spectrum or not. When it comes time for your child to go to school,
have a frank conversation with the educators about how your child learns and demand that
they allow your child to learn his/her own way. If that means they walk around while reading,
so be it. If they need to move beads to do math, so be it. Education is about having the
child learn. It's not about having everyone put into the same box and hoping for the best.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. Some kids need a therapy assistant to get them through a school day. Some kids need a therapy dog 24/7. Some kids have adaptive devices like iPads. Some kids have weighted vests to calm themselves. The world is at your disposal. There are countless apps available for autism education, therapy, etc. There are pins on Pinterest about anything you can imagine from occupational therapy, stimming, meltdowns, to sensory stimulation, fidget boxes, calm down kits, etc. Trial and error is the name of the game. Patience, persistence and the realization that you are human. You are going to make mistakes. You will get through it. As Taylor Swift says "Shake it Off" and move on to the next thing.
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