Inclusive Education Month – Our tips for parents when your child is entering or moving to a new school.
Inclusive Education has come a long way since my autistic daughter was in school ( she is now 30).
If you are new to school or moving to a new school and want to know how it can be easier for your neurodiverse child, I’ve got a few tips that may help you navigate this next chapter for your child.
#1 – Connect with Your School
This is the most important factor when your child is starting school. Connect with your school the year before your child will be entering the school system or as soon as you can when you know you will be entering a new school district. It’s important to meet the staff that will be doing the planning for your child – this can include the school staff: resource teacher, principal as well as divisional staff – Speech Language Pathologist, Occupational Therapist, Psychologist. If you are working with a private provider of any of the above services, it’s great to get everyone working on the same team. The majority of schools will welcome your input and recognize a parent’s value to the child’s education.
#2 – Communicate
If your child didn’t sleep well last night or if their home routine changed – let your school team know! If the student’s teacher is going to be away – let parents know! There are many ways to facilitate home-school communication so that everyone is in the loop and aware. Communication books are a great tool and can be as simple or as detailed as you need. Busy parents and busy school staff may not have the time in a day to provide a ton of detail but even the simplest communication is better than none. In the school that I work in, we also use individual students AAC devices to send messages home. Our resource teacher is very hands on and encourages teachers and EA’s to connect with her during the day. I’ve seen her send emails, send texts and phone parents to communicate about a student’s day.
#3 – Advocate
It’s all about ensuring that your child has what they need so that they can feel successful as a part of a school community. This won’t look the same for everyone, but schools are so much better equipped to facilitate a wide range of diverse needs than when my daughter was in school. This can range from physical equipment/sensory tools to changes in procedures such as letting a student eat at a time different from their peers.
Tips for Accommodations
Accommodations are mainstream now so don’t be afraid to let the school know what your child needs. Some children may need chewelry (that’s where Chewigem can help you out) to use some or all the time. In our school, the classroom teacher, resource teacher and EA all wear chewelry to help a specific student see that chewelry can be normal and for anyone! If a student needs to wear ear defenders – if the school doesn’t have them, they can be purchased at stores such as Peavey Mart and Parts Source which are less expensive than some specialized brands. If your child has vision challenges, then sitting near the teacher or classroom boards is imperative along with large print assignments or worksheets. Asking the teacher to use closed captioning on any videos etc. can help those that have auditory processing challenges.
Some Great Resources
There is SO much information out there now and it can be a challenge to find reputable info. That you can trust. Here’s a short list that we’ve put together that can help you on your journey.
And Next Comes L – Run by a mom, Dyan who has become an expert on Hyperlexia and Hypernumeracy
https://www.andnextcomesl.com/
Autism Ontario – provides a wealth of information and programming to all areas of Ontario. Great resources!
https://www.autismontario.com/
Autism Nova Scotia – Providing, resources, support and programming throughout Nova Scotia
https://www.autismnovascotia.ca/
Social Thinking – Strategies for Social, Emotional and Organizational Learning.
https://www.socialthinking.com/
Paula Kluth – working toward inclusive classrooms and communities
Remember that the goal is to help your child be as successful as they can be in school – whatever that looks like for them!
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Deyon Ventures Inc. DBA Chewigem Canada | GST# 810538991 
Chewigem Canada is located on Treaty 1 Territory, the traditional lands of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, Dene Peoples and the homeland of the Métis Nation. Chewigem respects the Treaties that were made on this territory and is dedicated to working with all in the spirit of reconciliation for as long as the sun shines, the grass grows, and the river flows.
Chewigem Canada est située sur les terres traditionnelles du Traité no. 1 des peuples Anishinaabe, Cri, Oji-Cree, Dakota et Dene, et sur la patrie de la Nation métisse. Nous reconnaissons les traités et les relations qui font notre communauté et nous nous engageons à travailler ensemble dans un esprit de réconciliation aussi longtemps que le soleil brille, que l’herbe pousse et que la rivière coule.
