No More School
“My son with autism graduated from high school last year,” said a mother. “We are working on some plans to help him embark on the next phase of his life. But I’m concerned about his emotional reaction when he realizes that, even though everyone else is heading back to school, he will not be returning to his regular school. Can you give me some ideas to distract him from all the back-to-school hype?”
SOME IDEAS & STRATEGIES: One idea for distracting him from all the back-to-school hype is to introduce a new project to mark transition into his new adult life. Now, I feel certain that you think I am OFF MY ROCKER to suggest something that takes time, effort, and money. After all, we are all swamped with trying to keep up with our own lives and the lives of our loved ones. We are so busy we don’t have even one spare minute. We are NOT super parents and we do NOT have time to launch a significant new project. Believe me, I realize that we all have good intentions for our youngsters, but we rarely have the time, energy, or money to carry through.
So, let me make it clear that I am talking about something simple. Just introducing a stress-free, easy-to-plan project that will make a big impact on your son’s emotional well-being by distracting him from the reality of this huge life transition. The project can be very simple – just take a few minutes to package it in a way that he understands this is a special, new undertaking for him. The nature of project will depend, of course, on your son’s interests, but here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing.
You son could plant a small fall garden to grow fresh produce for the family dinner table. Help him visit with a local nursery professional about container gardening so his venture can be successful in your climate. Container gardening is a good way to raise just a few veggies and herbs successfully without much worry.
If your son can tolerate a pet, this might be a good transitional time to let him adopt a little kitten or puppy. If he needs a less assertive pet, he could get an aquarium.
Your son could begin a new learning experience – guitar lessons, car repair, ceramics, or cooking. Just hook him up with a mentor who can help him enjoy a new hobby. Check with your local music therapist for music instruction and your local community education program for more ideas.
And, of course, the project you select to help distract your son from the “back-to-school” hype can be even simpler – a road trip to see a relative, a special night out to the movies, or a coupon for an ice cream cone.
You can introduce his new project with a great deal of fanfare, marking the launch of the project on the calendar, sending an e-mail “announcement” to his extended family, helping him make a list of supplies he will need, going on a “shopping spree” to get materials, and generally marking the launch of this project with the same amount of fanfare that “back-to-school” received in the past.
NOTE TO LISTENERS AND READERS: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. You can click on a button to send me an email with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solutions. Check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. www.FAQautism.com
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