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Supporting individuals with Autism through uncertain times can be challenging. Find resources here to help caregivers and teachers navigate instruction at home.
Supporting individuals with Autism through uncertain times can be challenging. Find resources here to help caregivers and teachers navigate instruction at home.
Support Understanding
Support Understanding
Individuals with autism may have varied levels of understanding about the COVID-19 virus, how it spreads, and how to reduce risk of exposure. Here are several strategies to use to provide additional meaning to this complex scenario.
A social story for older students addressing the uncertainty surrounding COVID19 school closures and when life, including school, will return to normal. Addresses the situation, feelings, what you can do, and making a plan.
Express Feelings
Express Feelings
Children and young adults will likely have difficulty articulately expressing how they feel about the many unexpected changes. Fear, frustration, and worry may be expressed through challenging behavior like tantrums, refusing to take part in family activities, or withdrawal.
Supporting individuals with autism to learn coping, self-management, and self-care skills is a priority during this time of uncertainty.
Routines
Routines
While it is important to create time and space for all family members to process uncertainty, individuals with autism may cope best when daily routines are only minimally interrupted.
It may also be necessary to create new routines during this time, as there are many new demands of caregivers—possibly homeschooling for the first time, continuing to work in/out of the home, and/or caring for multiple children or other family members.
Foster Connections
Foster Connections
Individuals with autism are more susceptible to social isolation and loneliness, and this may be worsened by quarantine conditions. Positive social support is important for everyone during this period, and individuals with autism may need more explicit facilitation to ensure that social connections continue.
Be Aware of Changing Behavior
Be Aware of Changing Behavior
Caregivers should be aware of the behavior of individuals with autism during these uncertain times and be alert for signs of anxiety and depression. These may include a change in sleeping or eating patterns, increases in repetitive behaviors, excessive worry or rumination, increased agitation or irritability, or decreases in self-care.
Covid 19 Toolkit
Covid 19 Toolkit
Access free AFIRM online modules and resources for each of the 27 evidence-based practices identified by the National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Also find free resources for supporting children and youth with ASD during uncertain times such as COVID-19 social narratives, hand washing task analysis, and calming strategies.
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