Expect the Unexpected

Every school year, it takes Nathan about 6 weeks to get used to the routine at school.  The first 6 weeks are usually difficult, but like a switch at 6 weeks everything gets much better.  It's been like that since preschool.  Like many people with autism, transitions have always been difficult for Nathan.

11 weeks after school started, Nathan has
dealt with a lot of changes, and more are on the way

This year was no different.  The first six weeks were hard.  Officially, he has the same teacher he has last year, but she's been out on maternity leave since school started.  He had a fill in teacher for the first nine weeks of school.  She agreed, that after the first six weeks, everything turned around and did much better academically, behaviorally and socially.

Nathan's teacher comes back next Monday.  But the relief teacher who filled in left a week ago.  So last week and this week, the teacher's assistant is substituting.  Nathan loves him, but he still had quite a few outbursts last week.  Almost every day he cursed at and hit his aide.  We even promised that if he made good choices and didn't act out, we would download an app he's been wanting.  He didn't get the reward.

On Friday, I found out his aide got another job, her last day is this Friday.  So next week, his old teacher will be returning and he will be getting a new aide.  I tried to talk to him about it his aide leaving all weekend.  He is not happy.  He doesn't really want to hear about it or talk about it.

This would be difficult for any class to handle, especially a special education class.  No one is to blame, it's just life.  Sometimes, you have to expect the unexpected.  But you can't tell a child with special needs, "Well, that's life, get over it."

So what can we do?  We are talking to him about it the changes ahead of time.  We are giving him strategies to deal with anxiety when he feels it.  Also, we need to make sure we are patient with him.  Luckily, the teacher who is returning and the teacher's assistant in the classroom both know Nathan very well and are very kind and patient to him.  I know they realize that these changes aren't going to be easy for him and will help him along as well.