Accompanying Individuals with Autism in the Transition to High School
Parents with children with Autism need to have many special considerations in preparing for school. In some children who have average to above average intelligence levels, and do not show behavioral problems, usually, their parents will direct them to take the path of high school education. In this article, we will review some things parents with children with Autism might be able to do in preparing for the transition to high school.
1. Understand the child's strengths
Some parents may still be unable to answer appropriately when asked, "What are your child's strengths?". They might be confused. Is there power in my child? Indeed, we often focus on comparing children with their non-autistic/typical peers, and this make us focus on the disorder's weaknesses and symptoms rather than the child's strengths. Before children go to school, it's good for us to see and observe what our children's strengths are. Some of the strengths of the child such as:
- Good attention.
- Friendly.
- Active.
- Creative.
- Curious.
- Honest.
- Et cetera.
2. Notice the changes and transitions that occur
Some of the changes that usually occur in children with autism in high school:
- Changes to usual activities.
- Changes in activity time which may be more frequent in the afternoon.
- Changes in the way of learning from junior high school to high school.
- Changes in the way of learning from offline to online, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- A more complex circle of friends and social spheres.
Entering a new environment will undoubtedly challenge each individual to adapt. However, adolescents with Autism usually need more time, support, and guidance from their environment to adapt to new places, systems, and routines.
In a period of transition or change, support and prepare children well at home. For example,
– introduce the child to the photos of his future high school teacher and his classmates. Remind your child what is and is not acceptable behavior with classmates and teachers.
– Introduce children to a new study schedule
In high school, individuals with Autism need to deal with changes and generalizations such as:
- Introduce children to a new study schedule
- Explain something clearly in class
- Meet new people at school such as teachers, friends, and security guards
Also Read: Challenges from Large Families of Children with Autism
3. Understand the obstacles and challenges faced by the child
As parents, we must understand the adaptation process children must go through when entering a new school. Difficulties in adapting can appear in the form of:
– Difficulty in managing emotions.
- Do not want to go to school.
– Having difficulty in understanding lessons in class.
– Difficulty in focusing on teaching and learning activities.
– Increased child anxiety and various other factors, such as fatigue, can lead to problem behaviors such as the emergence of repetitive behavior (stimming, circling in place, jumping) when previously these behaviors were minimal.
Remember, each individual has a different time understanding and developing self-control abilities. Give him time to practice strengthening his skills. If necessary, assist.
Other obstacles that might hinder children are their ability to communicate, such as:
- Difficulty in asking for help.
- Not comfortable with the teacher to communicate about his difficulties.
- Do not understand non-verbal communication such as slang, parables, symbols, etc. This will affect their interactions with their peers at school.
In the early days, it's normal for children to look more anxious, affecting their communication skills. Moreover, children usually have more difficulty understanding non-verbal communication. Therefore, children need an active role in their environment to provide support. For example, children need time to accept teachers who speak loudly every day because children are used to seeing loud voices as angry people.
Another example of a barrier is social skills. Some social ability barriers such as:
- Difficulty in understanding social signs.
- Barriers to making friends.
- It took more time in environmental adjustment.
- Do not understand the implicit social rules.
- Bullying by people around.
We recommend that children are equipped with ways to face these challenges before plunging into high school. Interacting is the first difficulty individuals with Autism have. Continue to accompany your child, and provide assistance when needed, but don't force it if indeed the challenge is beyond their ability and readiness.