Tips on How Families can Cope with the Closure of Schools and Services for their Kids with Autism
Since many states across the U.S. (and around the world) are closing schools, canceling public gatherings, and closing non-essential government buildings (e.g., museums, parks, etc), children's daily lives will be impacted even if they do not get sick.
Closing schools among a virus outbreak can be confusing for children and it can put significant stress on the adults around them. As parents and caregivers navigate this new reality, we’d like to help you prepare. If your local school district closes during the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak or for any other reason, you could be faced with different obstacles. For children with autism, the school closure may mean disruption to learning support services your child receives at school or any various learning centers.
Given that many children with autism have social-communication challenges, it might seem overwhelming to try to explain something like this. Hopefully, these tips can help parents/caregivers prepare for childcare arrangements, talk to your child’s school about closing plans, as we all try to navigate this challenging time:
Make sure to take care of yourself and your family.
Speak with your kids about the current events going on in the world, but use age-appropriate language that they can understand.
Try to establish a ‘new normal’ in terms of daily routines. Children tend to like predictability and routines, and it can be tricky without school to structure the day. It might help to make a daily schedule while schools are closed so that kids know what will happen during the day and when it will happen. There are many online resources that include daily calendar examples.
For children with ASD or other social-communication challenges, it can be helpful to use visuals to help explain both what is happening (e.g. there are germs making people sick) and what to do (e.g. wash our hands, cover our cough, etc.) This social story is particularly good, as it includes helpful images about both COVID-19 itself, best practices for good hygiene, and information about school/recreation closures.
Parents that can’t stay home from work to take care of child. Reach out to your friends and family so they can help you. Many families are arranging childcare sharing arrangements, where parents in two or more families take turns caring for a few children. Or, you may know a local parent or have a family member who does not work outside the home who could care for your child during the school closures.
Make sure to consider your support needs for all of your children in any temporary arrangement to ensure everyone’s safety.
Prepare information about your child’s support needs and successful learning and behavior strategies for anyone who will be caring for your child.
Your child’s school-based services will depend on the type of school closing. If the school uses virtual learning during a closure, then the school is legally required to continue providing services to your child, although they will need to be adapted to the new learning environment.
You can reach out to your child’s IEP team and the school administrators to find out about plans for special education services in the event of a closure. Also, you can ask your child’s current providers for instructions and techniques you can use in your home.
The Household Checklist also includes some of the following recommendations:
Develop an emergency contact list and discuss emergency plans with your family, including extended relatives, as well as friends and neighbors you may include in your plan.
Contact local organizations who may be able to help if you need support.
Check and restock your household medical supplies, such as a thermometer, fever-reducing medications and other medications you may need for co-occurring medical conditions.
Ensure you have sufficient food and other household necessities, including preferred or non-allergenic foods and other items, to make it easier to avoid leaving home during times of restricted movement.
Reach out to others to maintain social support for the whole family. Autism Speaks social media, social media groups for autistic people and their families, and other virtual support groups are some online resources for finding empathy and ideas while your family is homebound.
As always, please call our Autism Help Hotline for questions and access to tools, resources and supports. For information specific to the coronavirus and the most up-to-date information on the situation, please visit CDC.gov and the CDC’s coronavirus information site.
Hopefully, the above advice can help parents and caregivers of kids with autism during this tough time. Stay safe, everyone!