
CDC Invests $20 Million for Autism Tracking
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced in mid-December that it would invest more than $20 million over four years to continue…
At a recent seminar, I was asked by several parents what they could do to best help their children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the challenging classroom environment of today’s schools. Having worked on both sides of this issue as an educator and parent of a child with ASD, I know well the challenges parents face.
Probably the first and most important task for parents is to find teachers who will bond and make caring relationships with your child. This is true for all children certainly, but for children with ASD, a teacher will need to make many modifications frequently throughout the year, many times on the fly. Having a professional that you can trust with your child who genuinely has their best interests at heart will go a long way to school success.
Next, help your child build opportunities to make friends at school and in the neighborhood. As parents of children on the spectrum, we have all had our fair share of play dates that were just difficult. It is important to continue to work with your child, his peers, and their parents. Open and honest discussion will facilitate acceptance and understanding that will help grow these connections. The idea is to build and foster a peer group beginning when your child is young so that those peers will come to understand and appreciate your child. By having some strong relationships to lean on, your child will not feel isolated and alone.
Finally, keep those lines of communication open even when you don’t feel like you can give any more. Have honest conversations with school professionals about your concerns for your child and bring them into your trust and confidence. By building a reliable team, you can all work to support your child with ASD. As you do so, it is helpful for you and the team to understand that:
The best way to facilitate an inclusive environment in school is for an open and honest dialogue to regularly occur between the family and relevant school staff. Well in advance of any foreseeable school change (change in grade level, schools, etc.), parents should proactively approach school staff to either formulate or maintain relationships that will allow for plenty of forward planning. This makes school staff more ready to support a child with ASD and puts both staff and parents more at ease.
Scott Fowler has worked in public education for over two and a half decades, serving as a teacher, lead teacher, assistant principal, and principal and working in a central office capacity. Additionally, he is the parent of a child on the spectrum. He has provided trainings for teachers/educators, the hospitality industry, fire/rescue/EMS, law enforcement, and other enterprises that benefit from autism awareness. He is available for speaking engagements and consultations and can be reached at autismoutreachnetwork@gmail.com.