Autism Transitions

Building Fall Transition Routines: Task Analysis Strategies for Behavior Therapists

Why Fall Transitions Matter

Four Critical Areas of Development for 4-Year-Olds

What are the Four Critical Developmental Milestones for 4-Year-Olds?

Pre-Employment Transition Services for Autistic Youth: What Works?

Once an individual on the spectrum finds just the right crew, they may very well wind up being the glue that holds it together (I actually had a boss in the past year describe me as such, and that was definitely a good day on my end). –Grady Bolding

5 Strategies for Employers to Help Autistic Employees Thrive in the Workplace

A neurodiverse friend of mine who works at Trader Joe's has found that the support of her co-workers and managers has allowed her to truly thrive in her job as a cashier.

How ARIS® Supports MTSS Tier 3 Interventions

Supporting Preschool Students With Language Acquisition or School Readiness Challenges MTSS is a multi-tiered system of support that provides a framework for teaching that is proactive and preventative. MTSS provides schools with a systematic method of identifying students with

How to Help Your Autistic Child Cope With Their Parents’ Divorce

What can divorcing parents do to support their autistic child or teenager through these common challenge areas?

What Works? Evidence-Based Transition Services

As autistic students transition from adolescence to adulthood, it is important that the transition services they access are evidence-based. Researchers have carefully reviewed and devised recommendations for services demonstrating the most effectiveness for helping autistic stud

Job Coaching, Supported and Integrated Employment for Autistic Students

What Does the Law Require? Autistic students have the opportunity to continue their education through age 21. This is guaranteed by federal law. Schools and Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) staff should provide job experiences for students and later should have concrete data to he

How to Create Effective Transition Service IEPs for Students with Autism

A Guide for Schools on the IDEA and Rehabilitation Act Requirements Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), children with autism spectrum disorders are eligible to receive an individualized education plan (IEP) throughout their education from 3 to 21 years

Our Autism Journey From Special Education to Mainstream Classrooms

According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), every child with special needs has the right to be educated in the least restrictive environment (LRE) , which is the general education classroom as a first option. Working toward a more restrictive environment

A Deeper Dive: What Post-Secondary Employment and Services are Available for Students With Autism?

A growing number of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are attending college after they graduate from high school. However, unfortunately, a high number of these students also leave college without graduating, usually because they do not have the necessary support in p

9 Tips for Helping Autistic* Children Transition to a New School

Can you imagine starting at a new school in an entirely unfamiliar environment? Coping with a schedule change and new teachers, staff members, and peers is often nerve-racking for many students, but those with autism tend to have an especially hard time making changes and adapti

Overview of Transition Services: What Resources and Supports are Available for Students With Autism?

What are transition services? The societal transition from childhood to adulthood is full of stressful events for most children, including deciding between college and work, picking a college or vocation, and graduating from high school. For children with ASD, these transition m

8 Tips for Helping Autistic* Children Prepare for a New Baby

Preparing for the arrival of a new baby often involves a significant adjustment period as the family acclimates to schedule changes and reallocates some of their time, attention, and resources to get ready for the logistical and emotional challenges that adding a new family memb

7 Strategies for Supporting Individuals With Autism During Times of Transition and Change

Providing the proper support and interventions to children and adults with ASD can be a game changer in helping successfully manage changes in routines.

Moving to a New House With an Autistic Child

12 Tips for Supporting Autistic Children During a Move

Air Travel with Autistic Children: 8 Ways to Prepare

Taking a plane trip can be taxing for anyone, especially when traveling with children. Adding an autistic child with unique sensory challenges into the mix can make air travel even more difficult.

Benefits of Online College for Students With Autism

8 Reasons to Consider Distance Learning a nd 8 Great College Choices for Those on the Spectrum

The Persistence of Time: Managing Time on the Spectrum

Time on the Spectrum Think about time. Does every task take longer if you’re on the autism spectrum, or if you have a child on the spectrum? Does your family have special rules regarding when and how things get done, based on how one particular person experiences the passage of

Start Planning Your Summer Vacation Today!

6 Ways to Prepare Your Autistic Child for a Successful Vacation Summer can be a fun time to plan vacations, but – for many on the autism spectrum – new environments, different locations, and sensory sensitivities can present a challenge when making travel plans.

What Autistic* Teenagers Need to Thrive

When our autistic children grow up and enter the preteen and teen years, their needs change. They will require a new approach and different interventions to help them thrive. What may have worked for them when they were younger, may suddenly not work anymore and even annoy them.

Top Strategies for Supporting Time Management for Those With Autism

Time management is an important concept to consider when supporting individuals on the autism spectrum. Because time management and executive functioning skills (e.g., emotional regulation, impulse control, self-monitoring, working memory, organization, planning, initiating, and

Autism and the Transition to Adulthood (Part 2)

Building Social Skills and Maintaining Relationships (This article is part 2 of a 2-part series. Check out part 1 on helping young people with autism build a career and develop independent living skills! ) While emphasis is often placed on awareness of the signs and symptoms of

A Former Job Coach Shares Her Experience Working With Autistic Children

What Is a Job Coach? A job coach can provide guidance and initial support for a child when they begin to reach that transitional age and think about getting a job. Entering the workforce can be an intimidating yet exciting new prospect for anyone. For children with ASD, taking s

The Power of Optimism When Raising a Child on the Autism Spectrum

Without a doubt, raising an autistic child can be extremely stressful and challenging. Learning to embrace a more optimistic mindset, focusing on the strengths and abilities of your autistic child while also pursuing helpful new information and practicing self-care can make an e

Autism and the Transition to Adulthood (Part 1)

Helping Young People With Autism Build a Career and Develop Independent Living Skills (This article is part 1 of a 2-part series. Check out part 2 on building social skills and maintaining relationships! ) As young adults on the autism spectrum transition to adulthood, they may

Brilliant Amazon Show "As We See It" Features Autistic Cast and Crew

Photo credit: Amazon On Friday, January 21, 2022, Amazon Prime Video premiered a new show called “As We See It” starring three autistic cast members. The show follows three roommates in their early twenties, Jack (Rick Glassman), Harrison (Albert Rutecki), and Violet (Sue Ann Pi

Setting Meaningful and Achievable New Year's Goals for Autism Parents and Caregivers

As a grandparent and full-time caregiver of a teenager on the autism spectrum, setting personal goals for the New Year isn’t something at the top of my to-do list anymore. In years past, I used to make resolutions that focused on self-improvement, such as losing weight or gettin

Does My Autistic Child Need Occupational Therapy?

Assessing Fine and Gross Motor Skills Can Provide the Answer Motor skills are essential for children to explore, interact, and learn from their environment in order to develop cognitive and language skills. Because motor skills develop early in young children, deficits in these

11 Ways to Prepare for Happy Holidays With an Autistic Child

The end-of-the-year holidays are supposed to be happy occasions, filled with joyful traditions such as family gatherings, elaborately home-cooked meals, the exchanging of gifts, parties, fireworks, and other festive activities. They’re supposed to be a time to look forward to an

Using Task Analysis for Arrival and Dismissal Routines

Getting ready to go somewhere and transitioning once you arrive just might be the hardest part of the day for your autistic child or student, and in turn, for you. Fortunately, tools like task analysis (TA) can help take the stress out of coming and going, to let you and yours t

Teaching Multi-Step Skills Through Task Analysis for Autistic Students

Life is filled with constant multi-step directions and processes. That’s why a common elementary project is to have students write exact directions to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Their peers are then told to only do exactly what the directions say. As you might imag

How to Shape Homework Behavior With Autistic Children

Let’s talk homework! If you are a parent to a school-aged autistic child, you may find it challenging to encourage your child to complete homework assignments. Autistic children will often engage in undesired behaviors, such as noncompliance, aggression, or full-blown tantrums.

A Teachers Guide to Toilet Training Autistic Children: Five Key Steps

Toilet training autistic children can be a daunting task. It requires patience, time, and a team effort. Toilet training is a necessity to develop a more self-sufficient and independent child.

How to Strengthen Executive Functioning Skills for Autistic Children

Executive functioning is a fundamental process that each person needs to achieve goals, filter distractions, prioritize tasks, and control impulses. Deficits in executive functioning will impact a person’s ability to get through the daily tasks of the day effectively. Nearly eve

A Guide to Types of Visual Schedules for Autistic Individuals

Personalization Is the Key You have probably heard a lot about using "visual schedules" for autistic people. However, you may not be as familiar with the many different types of visual schedules or the different factors that need to be considered when creating one that is indivi

How to Use Chaining to Break Down Complex Tasks for Autistic Children

What Is Chaining?

Is College Right for My Autistic Child?

How can a family best take advantage of available resources and avoid obstacles, to plot a successful post-high-school experience for an autistic child? As Steven Covey wrote in The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People , “Begin with the end in mind.”

My Autistic Child is Thinking of Dating and--Gasp!--Sex?!!

Most parents are understandably anxious about the thought of their child eventually dating and becoming sexually active. That anxiety may be even greater for the parents of an autistic child. What’s a parent to do? The goal is to support every young person in healthy, optimal hu

7 Tips to Get Your Child Back into the School Routine

Summer is near the end and it’s almost time to head back to school! Gearing your child up for a normal school routine after summer fun is no easy feat. However, practice makes perfect! We know autistic children thrive with consistency and previewing, so these seven tips should p

From Sleeping in to Prepping for School: Strategies for Avoiding Wake-up Wars

One mother’s tried and true recommendations for helping your autistic child get ready for an early wake-up time once school starts. Are you dreading your "au-some" child's first week back to school because they are used to sleeping in now? Are you wondering how they will shift t

Follow Your Passion: 5 Steps to Finding the Best Career Match for a Young Autistic Adult

1. Follow Your Passion I love flying! All my life I have been interested in anything aviation-related: airports, travel, planes.

Cabin Fever? 5 Effective Activities for Students with Autism During Social Isolation or Quarantine

Note: These 5 activities can be done every day, and we recommend that parents create a schedule so that each of these activities takes place at the same time very day when possible. Having a schedule helps keep children with autism feel more secure and reduces anxiety. We also r

Classroom Routines: Preparing Your Child with Autism

This resource was created as a supplement for the Language Builder: Academic Readiness Intervention System (ARIS) complete early autism curriculum, Lesson #79, Following a Schedule. Download a free copy of the lesson and learn more about the ARIS curriculum . Preparing your chil

Autism and Anxiety: 10 Strategies to Help Your Child

For children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the prevalence of anxiety is shown to be greater than for their peers. Some studies indicate that anxiety disorders are present 40% of the time for children with autism. The good news about taking this into consideration is that

Top Work Places Supporting Autistic Adults

Autistic individuals too often have been underrepresented and discriminated against in employment. A 2017 report from Drexel University found that only 14 percent of autistic adults held paid jobs in their communities. Another study found that employment rates for autistic indiv

Young Adulthood on the Spectrum: An Interview with a Friend

Inclusion Toolkit: Top Ten Products to Accommodate Students with Autism in the Classroom

The beginning of a new school year can be a difficult time for some children with autism. Shifting from the comfort of home to an environment packed with loud voices, stiff chairs, slamming doors, and a new structure can trigger anything from distraction and discomfort to full m

Parent Strategies for Helping Children with Autism Cope with Transitions and Changing Routines

Transitions from one activity to the next can be difficult for any child, especially if they are being asked to leave a preferred activity to instead do something they need to do. While some behaviors in response to transitions may look similar between neurotypical children and

How to Prepare For Your IEP Meeting - For Parents of Children with Autism

Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) are defined as written plans outlining a program designed to meet the unique needs of one child. Walking into an IEP meeting prepared will help you and the school design the best plan for your child. Children with autism have distinctive nee

How to Choose a Summer Camp for Your Child with Autism

Summer camp can be a positive and enriching experience for children on the autism spectrum, providing an alternative to the rigorous school year routine and opportunities for peer interactions. However, finding the right fit for your child can be intimidating and does require re

Top 10 Tips for Traveling with Kids with Autism

Travel can be a beautiful way to explore a new environment, bond as a family, and learn together. For children on the autism spectrum, travel can also mean venturing through unfamiliar routines and adjusting to stressful, chaotic situations. However, with thoughtful preparation,

Tips and Strategies for Helping Children with Autism Develop New Routines

With difficulty making sense of their surroundings and feelings of anxiety, children with autism often develop routines and rituals to have some form of order and structure to their lives. Everyday routines such as washing and teeth brushing are generally consistent. There are t

Helping Children with Autism Develop Friendships

5 guidelines for the class or the home Friendships can have a major impact on wellbeing and personal growth, yet building new relationships can be anxiety provoking for adults and children alike. So, imagine how hard it can be for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), w

How to Help Young Children with Autism Avoid Behavior Problems

Linda Hodgdon has been a long-time friend of Stages Learning and is author of the best-selling book, " Visual Strategies for Improving Communication ." We have invited her to impart some of her wisdom and experience in a guest blog and she discusses an important topic that comes

Autism and the Holidays: Advice from the Front Lines

Navigating the holidays with autism The time has come for families and friends to get together and celebrate. This particular time of the year means many things: inviting extended family over, wrapping presents, pie, singing, joy, worshipping, and making cookies! However, holida

Work Environments, Adjustments for Autistic Employees

Advice for entering the job world It is common knowledge that people with disabilities tend to experience higher rates of unemployment and underemployment. Many employers seem to be unwilling to give disabled individuals a chance when they feel that their company’s success is at

Strong Start: Back to School Tips

Tips for getting back into gear for the school year Summer is an important time to take a break from school routines, spend time with the family, and explore extracurricular interests. However, the transition from the more laid-back schedule of the summer to that of the school y

6 Strategies to Prepare Your Child for Back to School, Haircuts, Hospital Visits, And More!

Preparing Your Child with Autism for the New Year Activities that are comforting, thrilling, or intolerable to people with autism can vary considerably from what a neuro-typical child or adult may experience in the same situation. For example, haircuts or birthday parties can be

Transition: A Guide to College Readiness and Applications for Students with Autism

Tips and Strategies for Transitioning to College with Autism Of the roughly 50,000 young Americans with autism who graduate from high school each year, less than 7,000 end up with a college degree (Wei et al 2015). This discouraging statistic has given rise to countless transiti

Talking about Puberty with Children with Autism

All bodies go through puberty, regardless of the developmental "age" of a child or the level of their cognitive or academic skills. It can be startling for parents to see their child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) begin to develop an adult body and characteristics when t

3 Ways to Build Skills for Transition Now!

Planning for a young adult with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) or other special needs to transition from special education to adult services can be overwhelming for children and their parents alike! Many parents are so intimidated by the transition process that they refuse to t

Grief and Loss: Helping Children with Autism Cope

Coping with the death of a loved one is difficult for everyone. The idea of death can be particularly scary for kids, and the thought of not being able to see or talk to a loved one again may be confusing and overwhelming. Download FREE Language Builder Emotion Cards! {{cta('c5b