Educating the Staff at School

Backpacks ... check.

Lunch boxes ... check.

School supplies ... check.

As I make my list to get ready for another school year my heart begins to beat a little quicker. Recently I shared my youngest son's concern about .

I will admit, I am just as nervous about the beginning of another school year. Especially for L, my oldest son, who is on the Autism Spectrum. It takes him longer to adjust to environments even though he's familiar with the setting since he's been enrolled in this school for four years.

The faces will be different as he looks around his new classroom. The teacher, of course, will be new to him. The simple act of eating lunch at a different time throws his world off. It's like throwing a pebble into a calm lake. One action creates a ripple effect. That is what eating lunch at a different time can be for him -- it can influence the outcome of his entire day.

I worry about that for him, amongst many other things. Will he be able to cope this year with the changes? Will he have people around him that will support him instead of make him feel "stupid" or "different"?

Every year I make these simple cards to explain Autism for every staff member at the school, from the custodian to his music teacher. The first year I simply wrote this:

Autism is the world's fastest growing developmental disability. Helpful hints for interacting with someone on the Autism Spectrum:  

• Speak slowly and use simple language.
• Use concrete terms.
• Repeat simple questions.
• Allow time for responses.
• Give lots of praise.
• Remember that each individual with autism is unique and may act differently than others.
  

I believe this simple act helps him every day with interacting successfully with faulty and staff. And I hope it opens their eyes to being more accepting of people who learn differently.

This year I will include other tips about L that will help people have a better understanding of him and how his amazing brain works.