Most schools hold a fire drill during the first month of the year. Administrators plan it. They know the date and the time. In theory, nobody else does, because part of the point is to practice what to do when an alarm is unexpected. That is often not how it goes. The administration wants the … Read more
When we talk about supporting autistic learners with change, we often focus on preparing them for what will happen next. Catching change starts somewhere slightly different. Years ago, I developed and ran a summer day camp for autistic campers, along with their siblings and friends. At the time, I did not have a word for … Read more
“He Does That All the Time at Home” What I Heard for Forty Years and Did Not Challenge It comes early in the meeting, usually while the present levels are being reviewed and someone is reading aloud a list of what the child does not yet do. A parent says it. Sometimes it is a … Read more
Appointment Support for Autistic Learners Begins with the Adults, Too You know the feeling. The appointment is days away, and something in you is already bracing. You run through the variables: how the waiting room might smell, whether the provider will be running late, what you will do if the learner you are accompanying cannot … Read more
New environments are part of everyday life. A visit to a relative’s house. A community event. A new playground. A family trip. A different store. Even a place we’ve never been before can bring new sights, sounds, smells, and routines. For many autistic learners, navigating a new environment is significantly more than a change of … Read more