Easing the Back-to-School Transition for Students with Autism or Other Special Needs

By Erica Kearney, M.A., LABA, BCBA

[This column was published in the West Springfield Republican on September 28, 2023.]
 
Transitioning from summer activities into back-to-school routines can be difficult for some students, including those with autism and other developmental disabilities. With the right planning and preparation, however, this transition can be less chaotic and feel like a seamless transition for students and their families. 

Through the years, experienced parents and educators have compiled a number of helpful suggestions for how to help a child who has an individualized education plan (IEP) adjust to this challenging change in routine. Below are some tried and true recommendations that may help you make your child’s back-to-school transition an easier one.

Meet and Greet
If you haven’t done so already, schedule a time for you and your child to meet with their support staff and educators. This will help both of you get to know their new team members better. Try and schedule it during a time when you can meet as many of their educators and support staff as possible. Knowing everyone by name will be helpful when your child talks about their school day. 

Explore
Exploring the new environment is beneficial for most students and can help increase their comfort level at school. It is important for them to learn where key common areas are located such as the lunchroom, bathrooms, nurse’s office, and gym. 

Build Rapport
A strong relationship between a student and their educators is vital to their educational progress. It is important for children to be comfortable in their learning environment and with those in it. Encourage staff to spend time getting to know your child and developing a rapport with them. 

Educate the Educators
Educators appreciate it when parents provide them with helpful insights regarding their children. Important information you can provide might include: 1) items and activities your child enjoys; 2) interests and things your child likes to talk about; 3) dislikes and triggers that cause upset; 4) safety concerns; 5) hygiene routines; and 6) communication style. 
 
Communicate Clearly
Developing communication strategies in the beginning of the school year will help ensure all team members are “on the same page” and can effectively work together in a collaborative manner. Be clear and transparent with your child’s team members. It is most helpful when parents are direct in their communication as well as positive and understanding. Educators want to help people; help them do this by ensuring your communication is meaningful, reasonable, and productive. 

Make a List
Prepare a list of questions for your child’s teaching team. Most teams identify a primary point person for communication. Similar to how schools want parent contact information, parents with children who have an IEP often benefit from knowing their main contact at the school for when issues arise, or they have questions.

Plan Ahead
Schedule future touch points. Ongoing communication between families and team members is essential to ensure students are receiving the best education possible. Scheduling progress or update meetings is helpful to make sure everyone is working together to monitor student progress. 

Routines Rule!
Develop and establish appropriate and realistic routines for both home and school. If you need help coming up with ideas for home routines, reach out and brainstorm with your child’s school team. They can share your child’s school routine with you and may have additional ideas for the home setting. Make sure the home routines you establish are realistic for your family.

The beginning of a new school year is an opportunity for families to recommit to working collaboratively with educators and support staff to ensure that their children learn and grow and have the best educational experience possible throughout the school year. 


Erica Kearney M.A., BCBA, is Executive Director at the May Center School for Autism and Developmental Disabilities in Chicopee, Mass. She can be contacted at ekearney@mayinstitute.org.


About May Institute
May Institute is a nonprofit organization that is a national leader in the field of applied behavior analysis and evidence-based interventions, serving autistic individuals and individuals with other developmental disabilities, brain injury, neurobehavioral disorders, and other special needs. Founded nearly 70 years ago, we provide a wide range of exceptional educational and rehabilitative services across the lifespan. May Institute operates five schools for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities, including one in Chicopee, Mass. For more information, call 800.778.7601 or visit www.mayinstitute.org.