Finally, what we have all been waiting for will soon be here. For many, our year of distance learning, while necessary, is happily coming to an end. How do parents prepare for our transition back to what was normal before, but different now? Many parents are seeking additional information regarding methods they can use at home to support their family member’s transition back into in-person educational programming services. To that end, the Autism Team at Lanterman wants to share resources important for parents as we transition back to in-person educational services, along with evidence based practices recommended to support clients and families proactively to promote the smoothest possible transition.
Available for download through CAPTAIN, in English, Spanish and Korean, is a lovely booklet for parents providing social narratives, advice regarding IEP services, connecting with your child’s educational support team, and addressing lost time that may have been experienced during distance learning conditions. To prepare for a return to in-person learning, our family members will need to learn to wear facial coverings while at school, understand rules of social distancing, familiarize themselves with newly designed classroom arrangements with greater distance and perhaps plexi-glass barriers, and hand hygiene requirements. Be prepared and help your learner to transition back to school with less fear and anxiety and a sense of comfort, safety, and excitement to see their teachers and friends.