School is just starting up here in Canada. Labour Day Monday marks the end of the summer. It’s the day to find the lunchbag, backpack, lock (and combination!), do one last set of neurofeedback training, and then rehearse how the day is going to go.

Rehearsing is funny. I mean, if you’ve never done it. If you’ve done it, then it’s totally not funny.

Parent: Remember to try to make a good first impression on the teachers.
Kid: Yeah, yeah, right. Impression. (not looking up from computer)
Parent: And ask your friends how their summer went. Like, ask did they go somewhere.
Kid: Yeah, yeah. Somewhere. (not looking up from the computer)
Parent: You aren’t even looking up from the computer! (puts hand in front of screen)
Kid: Hey!
Parent: We’re talking about school tomorrow.
Kid: No, YOU’re talking about school tomorrow. I’m not. I don’t even care.

Are you a parent facing a new school year, more stressed than your kid?

Then listen up.

Here are some tips for getting through the first week. And I said “getting through,” not “sailing through,”, mind you.

1. Pack a lunch together. Asperger kids need to feel some control over their food. They’re won’t be shocked and surprised by what’s in their lunchbag. And they’ll be more likely to eat it. Just keep healthy, high-protein, low-sugar foods on hand. Over time, pass on the entire job to the kid. It’s a life skill. Hey, life’s tough, kiddo!
2. Send an introduction letter for the teacher. Mention Asperger Syndrome, sensory difficulties, and accommodations outlined in the IEP. Many, many teachers aren’t aware of the IEP until well into the school year.Phone the school secretary and let him/her know it’s in your kid’s backpack. Otherwise, it’ll just come home again. If your kid is in high school, the guidance department or special needs supervisors should have informed all the teachers in advance.
3. Write a list the night before. Include all the basics: eat breakfast, brush teeth, comb hair, get dressed, pack lunch, etc. Draw a checkbox beside each item. This will help focus the morning.
4. Prepare for after school. Your kid may or may not want to talk, but there’s still lots to talk about. Getting used to a new routine is a tough go for an Asperger kid. So talk about the new daily schedule. If you have a copy of the schedule, try to colour-code it (like, dislike, hard, easy, etc.) and post it on the fridge. This helps the kid feel more control over their day. Talk about the other kids, and point out potential new friends. Peek in the lunchbag to see if anything got eaten.

If you’re a teacher reading this, here are some tips for you:

1. Give up on conformity. Won’t happen. Next!
2. Go visual. Asperger kids tend to be visual learners. Think charts, graphs, tables, schedules, diagrams.
3. Give them a heads-up before you change anything related to the routine. Tell them what will be different and give a suggestion about what they should do.
4. Keep instructions short. One thing at a time.
5. Avoid too many open-ended tasks. Asperger kids are good at tasks that require micro-focus, whereas most kids at this age can’t focus more than a gnat. Sure, give open-ended and creative work that the average kids can do, but also give the deep-concentration work that Asperger kids can do. Be fair.
6. Be aware of the possibility of sensory overload. Too much of anything (excitement, noise, frustration, movement) creates a sensory build-up in the kid’s body. This is a time bomb. Get tips from the parents on how to avoid sensory overload and how to defuse the bomb before it blows.
7. Let the kid leave class whenever he/she wants. Designate a go-to place. Don’t draw attention to these exits. This is the kid taking charge of the problem and doing what needs to be done.
8. Reserve extra consequences for kids who bully, tease, or treat Asperger classmates unfairly. Yes, that’s not fair. But kids have to learn not to pick on those who can’t defend themselves. When the costs are high, kids won’t do it.
9. Talk about good books on Asperger’s, meltdowns, sensory issues, etc. with the parents. Read the same books and try some of the ideas together, at home and at school.
10. Asperger kids argue with the teacher. Get over it. They’re not trying to be disruptive – they are disruptive. They see all people as equals, and they don’t get the power structures and hierarchies in the real world. Here’s a suggestion: If the kid is arguing and becoming disruptive, give the kid a piece of paper and tell him/her to write it all down, and you will discuss it later.
11. Don’t expect the Asperger kid in this year’s class to be anything like the Asperger kid in last year’s class. There is a lot of variability in who gets identified as Asperger. All the designation means is that this kid is not going to be like the norm, so special strategies are necessary.

Links
A very thorough article on the OASIS website

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