Teenagers With Autism Transitioning to High School

Thoughts of Springtime bring different images to mind, rain showers replacing snow, flowers, new growth on trees, baby animals, etc. If you are a parent with a child living on the Autism Spectrum Springtime also brings up other images. The school year is ending, if it has been a "good" year, you might be sad to see the year end. If it has been a "bad" year, you are happy to have survived. But whether or not the school year has been "good" or "bad" one thing is certain, change will quickly be upon you and your family. The end of this school year means that in a few short months the next school year will begin. How do you prepare your teenager for that? Helping your teen prepare for a new teacher and a new grade can be challenging, but some transitions are more complicated than others. The years that require moving to new schools seem to be the most overwhelming. Thoughts of moving from elementary school to middle school, middle school to high school and high school to college brings terror to many parents. And those of us who have been through it know what it does to our kids.

We haven't done the high school to college transition yet, but I remember clearly the transition from middle school to high school. It was "relatively" smooth. Planning started early in 8th grade. We were fortunate in that the high school was right next door to the middle school so for the last semester of 8th grade my teen was able to "work" in the high school library as an aide during his free period. This allowed him to become familiar with the school, the people and routine. It also got him use to going into the building. Having more say in the classes he took in high school was another positive thing for him. He carefully studied the list of offerings and made his selections (he actually figured out his plan for all four years, before his first day of 9th grade). There were some glitches. Some adjustments had to be made after school started. But it was clearly a much smoother start then middle school. Things that stand out that really help:

He had a case manager that he met at the end of 8th grade. His case manager talked to him about his goals and the courses he would need to meet these goals.

He was familiar with the layout of the school. He had one place, the library, where he felt really comfortable.

Before school started we took his schedule and walked around the building, located all his classes, found his locker, and worked the combination.

We arrived at school early each day so he could avoid the mass confusion at the lockers right before the bell rang.

Once school started his case manager checked in with him frequently to make sure things were going well. This was his go to person for questions/problems. This was not a long and involved meeting, usually they spoke briefly in the halls between classes.

The locker area was crowded, my son's assigned locker was in the middle of a row and thus he did not use his locker at school. But he was allowed to have two sets of books, one set at home, and the others kept in various classrooms, thus sparing him the necessity of going to his locker between classes.

Lunch was another issue with crowds and noise. Finding a relatively quiet place to eat was a priority, but not an impossible task. Lunch time clubs have allowed for peer interaction but in a less crowded forum.

No two teenagers are alike, and what works well for one might not work for another, but we have found that by collecting ideas that have worked for others, we come up with ideas we have not thought of and some of these ideas turn out to be very successful. These are some of the things that worked well for us and we hope we have given you an idea or two that you had not thought of before.

Julie Kirkpatrick, RN, BSN, MSN,
Estes Park Consultants, LLC, PC,
Estes Park, CO 80517

http://www.estesautism.com

http://www.facebook.com/EPConsultants

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Distance Learning High School For Autistic StudentsDistance Learning High School For Autistic Students

Many students with autism, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or Asperger's Syndrome find traditional high schools both frustrating and overwhelming. Typically, children with ASD or Asperger's Syndrome are intelligent students with who can develop a keen interest in a particular subject. Often, they are not well rounded, but would like to take advanced classes the subject or two they excel in.

Children with Asperger's or ASD often struggle socially. One of the symptoms of Asperger's Syndrome is that people with Asperger's have trouble reading social cues, whether they're verbal cues or physical cues. Children with Asperger's have trouble reading facial expressions. These traits often make it hard for children with Asperger's or ASD to fit in socially in a traditional high school. Sometimes children with Asperger's feel isolated and lonely because they have trouble making friends or sustaining relationships. Sometimes children with ASD are targeted by bullies, which can lead to frustration and depression. Parents of children with Asperger's or ASD often worry for the safety of their children at traditional schools.

Many children with Asperger's or ASD choose to homeschool. Choosing to homeschool is a choice a family can make to ensure the safety of their child, but also to help meet the special educational needs of their child with Asperger's or ASD. Many children with ASD want to take advanced classes in particular subjects and can be frustrated in traditional schools because their schedules do not permit this.

Distance learning is often a great choice for high school students with Asperger's or ASD. The online environment is straightforward and easy for them to understand and manipulate. Many children with Asperger's excel in a distance-learning environment because it can be highly structured and regulated. Children with Asperger's tend to like things to be the same and to not have surprises or interruptions. The distance learning online environment for high school students is safe and predictable, enabling children with Asperger's or ASD to feel comfortable and in control.

Children with Asperger's can sometimes have trouble with processing information. Some children with Asperger's or ASD process information more slowly than traditional students. When asked to speed up, children with Asperger's can get easily confused and frustrated. In an online high school environment, distance learning classes provide children with Asperger's the opportunity to work and process information at their own pace. This low-pressure environment allows children with Asperger's to really excel and develop their own talents and abilities, without having to conform to an arbitrary timetable as they would in a traditional school.

Many children with Asperger's feel isolated in a traditional school because other students focus on their differences. Often, these children find a safe 'home' in the online high school environment. Children with Asperger's find that online communication can be easier to master than face to face communication, and they also find that in an online environment, often other students are more accepting and less likely to be concerned about the social issues that might consume students at a traditional high school.

A distance learning high school is a tremendous environment for students with Asperger's or ASD. It provides a safe, challenging place for students to learn and to be in control of their own learning.

To learn more about a quality, distance learning homeschool please visit Laurel Springs School. Laurel Springs School is an accredited, college prep private school offering distance learning programs and teacher services for students in grades K-12. Laurel Springs uses web-based communication tools, a standards-based curriculum, and personalized instruction to offer students the highest quality home education experience based on your child's learning style.

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