COVID-19 Information/Resources

The thought of a smooth transition back into school days while there is so much uncertainty swirling around is overwhelming. How do you plan for what you don’t know? By taking a moment to catch our breath, we realize that we do know a few things, and there are steps we can take to help our kids get the most out of this year’s school experience and calm the waters ahead.

As parents, we want to make sure our child’s new teachers will get to know them, along with all of the quirks and intricacies that make them fun and interesting people. We also want to make sure that their unique educational needs are met. Taking time to pro-actively address these worries will go a long way during the first weeks of the school year.

Here at the Autism Society of North Carolina, we know how anxious parents are feeling about this upcoming, unprecedented school year. We are here for you to help you learn, problem-solve, and find the information and resources you need.

We're here to help during this time.

Visual strategies can ease anxiety, communicate expectations, and support learning new skills for those with autism. You can use some to prepare for the transition to the new school year.

Countdown: Mark a calendar or find another way to count down – perhaps a paper link chain you can tear or a jar with colorful straws you can pull – to the first day of school.

Visual schedules: Start using visual schedules NOW, when days are less busy, so this strategy is in place to communicate all the various transitions and expectations when the busier school days start. A visual schedule can also help you start moving the “wake up” time a little earlier every few days. To learn more about schedules and other visual supports, check out our free, recorded webinars:

• Visual Schedules: The Strategy that Keeps on Giving

• Structuring Your Child’s Academic Day During COVID-19

• Structuring Activities to Promote Independence

Social narratives: Use these first-person stories to explain to your child an upcoming transition or situation along with what they should do in that situation. Here are some social narratives that you can use as is, if appropriate, or to serve as a model to make your own:

• Schoolwork at home

• Parents check my work

• No school today

• Wearing a mask

• Temperature checks

Create a profile of your child: Introduce the teachers to your child’s likes and dislikes, the things that serve as triggers, and the strategies to avoid triggers or respond when things go wrong. This can be a letter or just a bulleted list; keep it simple. Click here for an example and a blank one to use. Email the profile to each of your child’s teachers a few days before the start of school if you can.

Review your child’s IEP: Make sure you are familiar with the goals and services it currently outlines. Either just prior to or shortly after the first day of school, your child’s EC teacher should reach out to discuss how goals will be met and how accommodations will be provided. Read more about reviewing your child’s IEP – and find a worksheet to help – in our recent blog post.

Create an inviting learning space: Spend some time with your child in the days before school setting up a home learning space or gathering supplies to enable staying organized and communicating expectations. Consider locations for a visual schedule or other visual cues, like for accessing online platforms. Using the kitchen table for school? Maybe make a placemat that goes on the table when it is time for school. Include preferred colors or characters and a list of expectations when learning. Mark a spot for where the Chromebook or tablet will go. Be creative and have fun doing this.

Upcoming online workshops: Register now for webinars with our Autism Resource Specialists and Clinical Department to learn more and ask your questions:

• Smoothing the Transition Back to School - COVID Edition on August 11 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.

• Navigating the Challenges of Online Learning and Telehealth Services on August 27

Get personal guidance: Our Autism Resource Specialists are all parents of someone with autism themselves and are happy to help parents find resources and problem-solve on any issue related to your child’s diagnosis of autism. Find one near you.

Rapid Response Clinical Consultation: This service through telehealth provides short-term consultation with our Clinical Department. Issues can include how to organize and plan the day, enhance structure during activities, and better integrate social communication.

Updates from ASNC

COVID-19 resources: Find more updates, links to resources and information, recorded webinars, and social narratives on our COVID-19 webpage.

Offices closed: Our offices remain closed at this time, but employees are working remotely and can be reached via phone and email during normal business hours. Thank you for your understanding.