Posted by Bama Hager, PhD on July 1, 2010

I Have Finally Learned to Be Proactive Instead of Reactive

Most parents remember the anxiety involved in sending a child to the first day of Kindergarten.  If your children are preschool or younger, you have undoubtedly thought about your oldest child’s first day of school.  It is an exciting time full of hope and promise.  At the same time, the experience can foster intense fear and dread.  Will my child find the bathroom?  Will he know how to get his juice pouch straw inserted?  Will she get lost going to the playground?  What if he meets a bully?  Did I get the right supplies, clothes, nap mat, etc.?  What if she refuses an activity or tantrums?   The beginning of every school year evokes similar thoughts and feelings in hundreds of families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder including autism, Asperger’s Syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS).

The beginning of the school year is challenging for many students.  It is a difficult time of learning new routines and patterns.  The beginning of the semester is unpredictable because it is new to everyone.  These challenges are often heightened for students who may have transition issues, frustration tolerance issues or communication issues.  The Autism Society of Alabama (ASA) is available to answer questions, provide information or refer a professional to parents of children with ASD.  The Autism Society of Alabama can be found at www.autism-alabama.org or 1-877-4AUTISM.  The websites and resources mentioned in this article are also cited on the ASA website.  

There are several great resources and checklists on the web regarding transitioning to school for students with ASD.  Many parents of children diagnosed as having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may also find the checklists and resources helpful.  ADHD shares some core diagnostic features with ASD.  

I am the parent of a 10 year old son with autism.  I am also a clinical child psychologist by training.  The beginning of the school year is time of excitement and almost paralyzing fear for me.  No two years are the same, but in the following posts, I will identify a few transitional steps into the school year that have been helpful and are important to me in proactively approaching the new school year.