Posted by Bama Hager, PhD on July 7, 2010

For students with Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, PDD-NOS and ADHD, a picture schedule or social story or both is a great preparation for school.  Even if you think that your child may not need a visual or written aid to prepare for school, I think the aids can be very comforting and helpful.  A social story is a story that you or you and your child write about returning to school.  It includes the specifics of your child’s transition experience.  So, it may start something like this; I will be going to City Elementary School and will be in Mrs. Smith’s class.  There will be some boys and girls that I know in my class.  There will be some boys and girls that I will not know in my class.  We will start the day doing 'example activity.'  I will go to the lunchroom to eat lunch or I will go to the resource room to eat lunch.  Whatever specifics you can find out from your child’s teacher about the day can be used in the story.  

For younger students or students who prefer pictures, a picture schedule is often helpful.  A parent might take a picture of the school, entrance, classroom, lunchroom, gym, playground, etc. to use in discussing the first day of school.  Schools are usually fully staffed and open in the days immediately prior to the start of the semester.  This might be an opportunity for parents to enter the school and with permission from the administration, take photos for a picture schedule.  A photo of the teacher would be great if available.  Previous yearbooks are often helpful in this regard.  I usually take my son to the school in the days leading up to the start of school to walk through the building and ideally see the classroom.

In following articles, I will include websites that are nice introductions to visual aids like social stories and picture schedules for returning to school.