‘There’s a lot of anxiety’
Preparing children with autism for school important, says spokesperson
Going back to school can cause stress and frustration in children with autism, so it’s important to help them prepare for a new routine, says the executive director of a local advocacy organization.
“There’s a lot of anxiety ... everything is different,” says Terri Duncan, spokesperson for Children’s Autism Services of Edmonton. “The more you can prepare kids, the better.”
Preparation can include visiting schools and playgrounds ahead of the first day at school, she added.
“So that it’s not as much of a shock to the system,” she says. “Routine and predictability is really important for kids with autism.”
On Saturday, a picnic for about 150 people — complete with cotton candy, a barbecue lunch and toys — provided children with autism a chance to practise social skills before going into the classroom.
“We’re trying to give families a chance to connect with each other,” Duncan said, speaking at the Maier Centre for Autism in west Edmonton.
Autism Canada estimates one in every 68 children has autism, characterized as a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects brain development. It can lead to challenges with communication and social interaction, as well as causing repeated behaviours.
Those with autism spectrum disorder have a range of behaviours because there is a continuum of severity, said the organization.
“There is more awareness, but there are also more myths,” Duncan said. “(People) think it’s one thing, (that) it’s kids who rock or flap or jump.”
Stephanie Charette, mother of three sons under the age of nine, said her youngest son is about to go into kindergarten. Joseph, 3, has autism and doesn’t speak yet.
“Having his delays, it’s really good he’s around peers and gets used to the teachers,” she said. “He gets frustrated easily and has a lot of tantrums ... Right now we’re dealing a lot with controlling his emotions and helping him manage them.”
A supportive community is essential for families, she said.
“It’s really hard for a parent. Everyone has this box that children should fit in and mine don’t,” she said. “Two arms, three kids. Especially at their age right now, I feel overwhelmed.”
Duncan said the centre serves hundreds of families each year, including school programs geared toward children from preschool to age six. “This helps families find people who get it,” she said. “It’s important for (parents) to see that there are other kids that have challenges, too.”
Four-year-old Mason is “very high energy,” said his mother Caroline Laramee.
“He likes to do what he wants to do, sitting still is difficult for him,” she said. “This gets him out of the summer mode to bring him back to school.”