Your Child with Autism – 5 Tips for School Success
Starting a new school year is always difficult for any child with autism or Asperger's syndrome. The change from the routine of summer to the new routine of the school year can lead to meltdowns, anxiety and other problems. Let's face it, our loved ones with autism spectrum disorders like routine…the same processes over and over again. The same faces. Getting up at the same time. Wearing the same clothes. Eating the same food…and seeing the same familiar faces.But as a new school year starts, these things change. Wow do they change!
Many children, whether autistic or not, have challenges adjusting. But for a child on the spectrum the adjustment can be overwhelming.
How to Ensure a Successful Start of the School Year for a Child with Autism
Here are 5 tips to ensure a smooth transition and start to a new school year.
1. Communicate
- Ensure open lines of communication. Speak with teachers, guidance counselors and the principal. If possible, contact your child's teacher well in advance of the first day of school. Also meet with your child's aids or counselors and the principal. Ensure that they understand who your child is and know what your child's special needs are.
- Help in the classroom. It is always important to understand just what issues a child with autism is facing and how well he or she is coping. Many teachers are open to having a mom help out in the classroom…as long as you are not disruptive. Find something useful to do…grading papers, filing, putting books back on the library shelves. Find something that allows you to be around your child and help the teacher. This way you will have the opportunity to see how well your child is progressing first hand, even if it is only once every two weeks.
- Set correct expectations regarding communication. Tell your child's teacher how you want to be commented with. How often. By email or in-person visits. Set this up at the very beginning of the school year to ensure that you have a steady stream of information on how your child with autism is doing.
2. Build Familiarity
- Establish routine. Nearly all children with autism crave routine. They want to know what will happen and when…and they want to know this in advance. If the school year is about to start, establish this routine now. Set a bed time. A time for doing homework. A time to leave for school and a method of getting there. Make sure your child understand, in advance, these steps.
- Visit school at least a week in advance. Tour the school. Look at the classroom. At the desk in which your child will sit. Work with the school to get these issues handles in advance for the first day of school.
- Go to the school more than once. Visit the school two weeks in advance. Then one week in advance. Then the day before school starts. Allow your child to get used to this new routine and establish familiarity with the new school, classroom and teacher.
- Wander the halls. Work with the school administration to allow your child to wander the halls before the first day of school. Allow him or her to understand the lay of the land. Visit the gym, the cafeteria, the playground, the library. Ensure that there are no areas of the school that will be a surprise to your child the first time they go there once school has started.
- Take photos. This is often a great way for a student with autism or Asperger's syndrome to establish familiarity and get used to the school environment in advance of day one. Take photos of the school…his or her classroom, their desk, the cafeteria, the gym. Allow your child to view these photos and make a photo scrapbook so that they are comfortable with the setting before school starts. This way, the only new aspect of the school that your child will not have seen before school starts is the student body.
3. Develop Routine
- Develop a set schedule in advance. Before the first day of school establish the entire school year routine. Where will your child sleep, eat, play? What about chores? Get this all established before school starts.
- Allow your child to have input. Depending on the age of your child with autism, allow him or her to contribute to the establishment of the routine. Let them have input. What time will they do their homework? What time is bed time? Where will they sit to do their homework? The more input your child with autism has on these issues the more comfortable and cooperative they will be.
4. Organize for Success
- Get your child organized. With most children with autism, chaos reins in their heads all the time. It is essential to help your child stay organized…especially now that school is starting.
- Set a specific place to do homework. Ensure that the right school supplies (pencils, erasers, paper, etc.) are there and have their organized place. Lighting and noise are often sensitivities that children with autism struggle with. Make sure your son or daughter have appropriate light and that their study spot is quiet.
- Eliminate noise. Ensure the home environment as well as the place that you set aside for your son or daughter to work is quiet and appropriate for studying. Make sure the TV and radio is off in the house and that other siblings are not running around causing commotion when your child with autism is trying to study.
- Establish a timeline. Once your child is home from school a good idea is to allow some down time…perhaps 30 minutes. Then it is time to do homework. Establish a specific time for play, for homework, for down time…and stick to this schedule.
- Allow your child to learn and develop scheduling skills. One issue that plagues many children with autism is poor organizational skills. Allow your child to help establish an organized plan for the new school year. By doing this your child with autism will learn a valuable organization lesson that will help throughout his or her life.
5. Advocate
- Develop self-advocacy. You are your child's best advocate. You will help them with homework, help them get to school; make sure that they receive the resources they need to succeed in school. But, over time, your child needs to learn self-advocacy. As your child gets older, perhaps as a teenager, they will need to understand that the "squeaky wheel gets the grease." They will have to understand what their rights are and begin to stand up for them.
- Allow more responsibility over time. In the middle school years and especially in high school, your child should learn what he needs to be successful and practice getting these resources. After all, what is school for? It is to help your child transition into young adulthood. While it is important for you to fight for resources for your child, you cannot always be there. This is the time when you need to help your child help themselves.
For additional tips and suggestions that can help your loved one live a fulfilling and happy life read Craig Kendall's book, The Autism Survival Guide. 
Craig's book The Autism Survival Guide has received rave reviews from parents and professionals alike for its pragmatic and practical approaches to solving the everyday problems that parents face. Click here for more information on Craig's book.
Hopefully, with early identification and early treatment, life can be a little easier for those with autism and the people who love them.
I enjoy and appreciate the information, anything to help my son and my own understanding of what life is like for Nicholas. It also helps me educate my son's teacher and EA which this process is ongoing and at times very frustrating.
My name is Matt Turner from Australia. I have a 6 y.o. with autism (fairly mild). I found your work insightful and helpful - my wife is a doctor and spent many hours wading through medical texts to no avail. Our son Finley Turner is a very bright, friendly, healthy, unconditionally loved boy who can lose it sometimes. The guide helped us understand what to do and it helps him as much as us. Thanks for the work and I have recommended you to other parents in similar situations.
I found your articles to be extremely helpful...I applaud you for sharing your story and helping others who are going through similar situations. Thank you for sharing your story.
I was pleasantly surprised by the consistency, and thoroughness of the topics. I think this is a valuable tool. I think this was a valuable tool for me because as a parent we all need a kick in the butt and stay on task, constantly fighting, updating and communicating with caregivers, teachers and finding tools for our children. Keep it up!
I definitely found your information helpful. My grandson was just diagnosed this summer. He is very smart and sweet. We will continue to be an advocate for him thanks to your information. I am including a picture of him. 
"Hi my son of 3 and a half years was diagnosed today, I had concerns so prior to his appointment I researched it and joined your newsletter. The information was so helpful and very supportive it was almost like having a counselor as I opened each email I felt like some one really understood my situation so thanks you so much for that, it's a very hard thing to accept and you do feel alone but with the letters I was given inspiration and hope that not everything was going to be doom and gloom it was and still is a lifeline.
"I have found the newsletters very valuable. I have forwarded them to teachers who work with Matthias when they apply."
I have been reading your Newsletter for a while now. Find attached a picture of my family. Joel is the little boy in glasses. Thanks for putting a smile on me. My knowledge and support is increasing. I feel more positive towards helping my son than ever.
I am Ben's grandmother and see him every single day. He is a joy. What your info does is help us to understand the melt downs that quite frankly we have always put down to the meds that he takes. We have proved your theory of a strict regime for Ben. Each letter adds to our knowledge. Keep it up dear friend. We learn from you every day and will I am sure continue to learn. God Bless you.
22. August 2011 at 6:05 pm
Thank you for your consistent insight. Just last winter we found out our 11 year old son has Autism, He just started in his first year of middle school. Your newsletters help me to understand, plan and cope. My husband is ADD and it is very challenging to schedule and stick to it, in our home. I seem to be able to try at least one new thing every time I read my email from you. Thank You!
22. August 2011 at 6:52 am
Your book is awesome, as the mom of an autistic 8 year old I frequenctly refer back for advice. I love the emails too, Dave is in school ( main stream) and generally copes well, but is stressing a bit now the work is increasing – You’ve just reminded me of story boards, maybe I need to use them again to settle him down. Thanks for all your input – every bit of advice helps make our home a happy one.
22. August 2011 at 12:02 pm
Thanks for your kind words. For those who are not aware of all of my books, you can find more information on the three books I have on Asperger’s syndrome at http://www.AspergerSociety.org
23. August 2011 at 2:10 pm
where can i get your books in Nigeria, West Africa.
27. August 2011 at 7:58 pm
I do not know where our books are sold in Nigeria. I suggest that you purchase the books from our web site.
The e-books are sent electronically immediately. The paperback books are mailed using the U.S. Postal Service. Books typically arrive in the U.S. in 3 to 5 days. Outside the U.S. books take 3 to 5 weeks depending on the country.
To purchase books on Autism click here.
To purchase books on Asperger’s syndrome click here.
22. August 2011 at 1:25 am
its a good aticle and educative
thank you
21. August 2011 at 12:24 pm
This is a very good article. Pl. give some tips about how to teach a autistic child so that he can comprehend. My son is 11 years old, autistic child. He reads but does not understand whatever he reads. How to teach him so that he can comprehend also?
Thanks.
SK Sharma
21. August 2011 at 5:06 am
Hello Craig,
Thanks for the tips. We practiced some of them like the communication with the teachers, the school visit in advance, and taking photos, and it all have worked very well with my son how is now 7 years old.
Thanks again.
John – “livinginthepuzzle.wordpress.com”
21. August 2011 at 4:12 am
Dear Mr. Craig Kendall
Thanks a lot for your valuable tips. These tips will surely help the parent like us dealing with autistic child.
Thanks again.
20. August 2011 at 4:48 pm
Thanks Craig kendall. We are still battling with my first daughter who is now 6. Most of the solutions and diagnosis available are serious challenges to us here in Nigeria West Africa— my self and wife do appreciate your vicarious sacrifice and commitment to assist others but third world challenges are so Overwhelming God bless my dear and please assist us with both survival guide and other critical materials—i should be able to pay though my contacts in your country –chicago or florida tallahasse—thank you once more.
19. August 2011 at 8:00 pm
Dear Kraig,
Thanks for you step.Its really challenging and I have learned something new,
Farhana
18. August 2011 at 12:49 am
Hi!! Mr. Craig Kendall
I thank you for being so good. Your story gives me hope.When I read your story I get inspired.
Thank you again.
Almaz