Transitions
Posted by
damo73
on 9th March 2010
at 18:09
Hello Sara,
Good idea - I followed the link to the AET website. I found that 37,500 pounds had been given to Medway to spend on transition (and another 12 authorities) + that on the advocacy page that autistic people themselves are not mentioned as possible advocates. I have e-mailed the site to ask how I find out how the money was spent + why this is the case concerning the lack of mention on autistic advocates etc.
I will let you know what responses I get!
Damian
Posted by
Elena Goodrum
on 10th March 2010
at 09:37
I noticed that Jenny has posted this in the Questions & Answers area of talk about autism, so thought I'd copy and paste it over here.
The NAS website has a good section on Transition Planning and what you can expect for your child:
http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=528&a=4412
There was also a lot of chat about transitions in the Moving from Primary to Secondary (Mainstream) discussion, so I'll head over and leave a note there that we're also discussing it here! : )
Posted by
Snowdrop
on 10th March 2010
at 09:45
Since Dylan is going to be staring his new school in Sep, I'll add any good ideas etc I come across over the next few months as I know he'll begin having taster days for his new school soonish. BTW, think taster days are a very good idea to get children used to what their new surroundings will be.
Tracy - Community Champion
Posted by
Momof7
on 10th March 2010
at 11:00
Dianne
Excellent topic.
Our little man changed schools last year and we were dreading it as him and change just do not go. I decided I would take control and inform everyone exactly how it needed to go and I meant business.
I have found with Liam, he's 10, visual aids are the best . I began a story board starting with photos of home and all of us who live here. Liam took this to school and carried aroiund for a few days before deciding to let others look at it. With his LSA he then began taking photographs ,on his v tech indestructable camera. The photos were very random the toliet the carpet etc but they were his. He would bring them home and I'd print them and add to his book. We eventually got pictures of people and play ground etc and his book became very thick.
The next step was the visit to his new school which we did when it was closed. We were able to get in the grounds and walk around and he took more photos. I got the receiving lsa to give e a photo of her and that went in his book. The lsa vistied Liam at his old school and he was happy to share his book with her. Liam was then invited to visit new school and take photos. On the first visit his old and new LSA were with him as he took random photos. He then came home and shared his book. This went on for several visits until he was able to sit in his new class for a short time and now he had a camcorder so he recorded it for us all to watch well random bits that interested him the floor walls etc.
We then broke up for summer holiday and this book became a bible we had laying around and everyone was encouraged to look at the book and talk about it.
Just before the dreaded first day we went back to the new school and took more photos and had picnic on the field.
We have been amazed at how well he has transferred and he is doing so well. It's also been useful for other things we need to do that involves change Liam takes a photo and we build around it.
It is time consuming but its much better than spending the time reducing the screaming ab dabs which cause everyone so much distress
On his first day he took objects from home which could fit in his pocket and apparently he was twiddling and touching them a lot. He did this for several weeks but then one day he just stopped. He now has a ball of blue tac in his pocket and fiddles this guess its his comfort
Hope this helps
Posted by
Momof7
on 10th March 2010
at 12:33
I wish the schools here did they have no idea and not open to parents ideas very much they are the experts. I am the expert for my child so I just do what he needs and they either have to accept or get over it. I have now got to the stage where assertiveness is viewed as being an aggressive over protective mom but I have no problem with their failings as long as Liam is ok.
Liam draws lots of maps and puts our house on there with a trail to and from it. Its as if he needs constant reassurrance he will be coming home .
Posted by
NickyB
on 10th March 2010
at 15:44
Hello :)
It's looking likely that Stuart will be moving from mainstream primary to an autism unit in September. They do the transition very slowly at first, probably just one morning a week at first, during the summer term. They will then build it up depending on how he's doing, until he goes full-time in September. It will be interesting to see how it goes - I'll keep you all posted!!
Nicky - Community Champion
Posted by
bumblebee
on 11th March 2010
at 08:36
Hi Nicky,
Great news! I think this is the best way to do it....when Jack transitioned from his mainstream to his unit, he started by doing some taster days too and it worked really well. We never went in with him right from the beginning and I think this also helped so he never expected it or asked for it to happen......He loved it right from the word go and after his first visit asked for one of their sweatshirts! I bought him one pretty quickly and I think that by wearing the same as everyone else there, it helped him feel part of the unit quickly....
As for getting into the taxi, we told him how lucky he was and that it was for big boys....I think it helps to find their motivation to work on persuading right from the word go that this is a really good idea. For the first couple of weeks, we let Jack take one of his toys to hold in the taxi and then in school....we called it a transition toy and as it was always with him and it went to all places (something not changing)...this really heleped too.
Finally, I think the home school contact book is vital!! and also if the teacher sends some of Jack's work home with him, it allows Jack to talk about school and his achievements in a really positive way and that helps lots too :0)
Claire - Community Champion
Posted by
elastigirl
on 24th March 2010
at 14:49
I must say I had very little help settling my son into secondary school in sept 2009.To make matters worse I had my hip replaced in the summer was unable to do much to help.On his 1st day My partner made him catch a bus!He had never been on a bus before.I spent all day feeling sick and awful.He was late home having decided to walk.....
Things are better now.
Elizabeth
Posted by
bumblebee
on 24th March 2010
at 15:44
I think there are some good resources available from the autism outreach teams. In our area they seem to hand out photocopyable transition packs to mainstream schools...this is not a days worth of work though, it should be done slowly at the childs pace over quite a long space of time.
Maybe we could work on a downloadable transtion pack of our own with the help of Treehouse if they are up for it? What do you think guys?
Claire - Community Champion
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Posted by
asteroids
on 9th March 2010
at 11:45
Hi everyone,
I thought I'd start a new topic on Transitions because I know how difficult this can be for many children with ASD.
Are you worrying about the move to a new school or class? Or do you have some good strategies to share with other parents?
I've provided a link to the Autism Education Trust website as this has some great advice and examples of good practice regarding transitions.
http://www.autismeducationtrust.org.uk/en-GB/Good-practice/User-specific...
Asteroids Sara - Community Champion.