Successful School Change and Transition for the Child with Asperger Syndrome: A Guide for Parents

by Clare Lawrence

Overview

Moving to a new school can be a daunting prospect for the child with Asperger syndrome, and parents are often left feeling powerless to help prevent the anxiety and loss of confidence which may ensue.

Clare Lawrence's new book provides parents of children with Asperger syndrome with practical advice on how to prepare their child for moving to a new school, and how to help make the transition as smooth as possible. A wide range of material is covered, including useful guidance on choosing the right school, supporting the child during the period prior to the move, and identifying and practising the different social rules and expectations of the new school. The strategies in the book can be adapted for children of all ages and include working out a transition time-line, identifying a named adult and 'safe haven' at the school, and effective communication between parents, teachers and support staff.

This clear and accessible book will be an invaluable resource for parents of children with AS who are moving to a new school, and will also be of interest to the teachers and education professionals who work with them.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780857003584
Publisher:	Kingsley, Jessica Publishers
Publication date:	01/15/2010
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	160
File size:	645 KB

About the Author

Clare Lawrence is a teacher, autism worker and mother of two children, one of whom is on the autism spectrum. She works closely with schools across the UK, exploring practical solutions for how to make education more accessible for children with AS. Clare lives in Cambridgeshire, UK.

Table of Contents

Introduction. 1. Planning the Move. 1.1. Identifying the problem. 1.2. Planning ahead - the “2-year plan”. 1.3. Choosing the new school. 1.4. Involving wider autism professionals. 1.5. Preparing your child. 2. Before Moving On. 2.1. Collecting your data (what has worked up to now?). 2.2. Sharing information about your child. 2.3. Visiting the new school. 2.4. Collecting support information - photos, maps, curriculum textbooks, planners. 2.5. Identifying a named adult and 'safe haven'. 2.6. Identifying sensory difficulties and 'flagging them up' to the new school. 2.7. Identifying useful technologies. 2.8. Identifying key skills to be developed (and habits to be broken) and working them into the Education Plan. 2.9. Encouraging the 'named adult' to visit the current school. 2.10. Working out a 'transition time-line' with clear identification of responsibilities for all involved. 2.11. Dealing with rumour. 2.12. Adapting current strategies that work for supporting transition. 2.13. Utilising existing AS community of school. 2.14. Familiarising your child with the school and the concept of the school. 3. The Holidays. 3.1. Looking at strategies to minimise distress at leaving the old school. 3.2. Providing preparation and support during the holiday period. 3.3. Addressing practical issues. 3.4. Taking on a project. 3.5. Identifying and practising the different social 'rules' and expectations of the new school. 4. The First Days. 4.1. Considering a flexi-start. 4.2. Using support. 4.3. Checking his needs have been understood. 4.4. Providing practical and organisational support. 4.5. Monitoring and supporting homework. 4.6. Helping with management of workload. 4.7. Facilitating communication. 4.8. Ensuring that the 'simple' supports are in place (and remain so). 4.9. Accessing transition support from 'Asperger community' of school. 4.10. Evaluating the first days. 5. Into the Future. Appendix: Transition Check-list. Further Reading. Index.

Editorial Reviews

This is a much-needed book on a very important subject. Highly recommended.

Carolyn Unsted

Moving schools for children on the spectrum can be a positive experience if approached in the right way. It requires an understanding of autism, knowledge of the individual child and planning. This book provides both parents and teachers with some excellent tips and strategies to make a successful school transition possible.

Andrew Powell

Written by the parent of a talented child with Asperger syndrome, Clare Lawrence's book offers a deceptively simple yet ingenious and insightful set of guidelines on how to cope with school transitions. Reflecting her background in teaching, Clare is able to illuminate with remarkable clarity not only the pitfalls that may await families an schools at this time, but also effective ways of avoiding them.

I recommend this book to all parents of children with Asperger syndrome who are concerned their child may have difficulty coping with school transitions. If these recommendations were implemented widely, by teachers and parents, much distress and disruption experienced by families and schools could be averted.

David Skuse

This book is full of good practical tips for parents wanting to help their child manage the transition into a new school...The advice is tinged with reality, for example pointing out that although planning ransition might be helped by giving access to a timetable before the start of term this is rarely available. A worthwhile read for parents looking for advice for their child in the run up to the start of a new school term.

Youthinmind.info/UK

Clare has combined her ability to articulate simply and concisely the ever complex issues surrounding AS and education with her depth of knowledge of the subject area to produce a valuable and intelligent book. I would certainly recommend this to any parent or professional involved with a child with AS who is facing transition and congratulate Clare on (another) excellent publication in this field.

Dr Luke Beardon