Technology has found a place in many therapeutic areas, and it’s gaining speed in the world of autism spectrum disorder. With many children with ASD drawn to tech gadgets, it makes sense to use that innate connection to enhance the quality of education and your child’s functional skills.

A number of autism organizations, advocacy groups and non-profits are taking strides in generating awareness about the benefits of technology for children with ASD.

Autism Apps Aid Communication

There are tons of apps out there for tablets and smartphones for scheduling, visual cues for communication, and other functional aids for children with ASD. Autism Speaks maintains a comprehensive directory of apps that are useful in this population, including the functional areas they benefit, costs and other details, while many organizations focused on ASD are touting the benefits of technology in the classroom.

Some Schools Lack Resources

Not every school has the funding for an assistive technology expert to guide the use of technology in the ASD population, but you can help. Contact your child’s school to inquire about their use of technology in the classroom. Do they have an assistive technology expert on-staff within the district, or a contracted expert they can consult for periodic consultations?

If you have the ability, offer to write a grant proposal on the school’s behalf. You can also conduct research to find organizations willing to invest in educational technology for special needs populations and provide a list of available funding opportunities to the school.

Feature-Matching Analysis is the First Step

Autism Consortium suggests that every child with ASD have an assessment before technology is incorporated into the curriculum. That’s because children with ASD vary dramatically in needs and functional skills, so the appropriate use of technology might look different from one child to the next.

Your child’s school can initiate and coordinate what’s called a Feature-Matching Analysis to determine how your child could benefit specifically from the use of technology. You can also coordinate the assessment yourself through a number of independent organizations. Once you’re armed with an assessment and a plan of action, investing in your own device is another option.

Bringing technology into your child’s education will take some effort on your part if your school district isn’t ahead of the times in terms of technology. Collaborate with other ASD parents and your child’s educators, and coordinate a group effort to improve the use of technology in the classroom.

Does your child’s school use assistive technology in the ASD or special needs population? Have you been successful in initiating the use of more technology in your child’s school? What tactics have you found to be successful?

As research emerges demonstrating that certain dietary changes may improve the signs and symptoms of ASD, more parents are placing their children on supplements or restricting certain foods from their diets. Certain supplements have also been shown to reduce the gastrointestinal symptoms that frequently plague children with ASD.

Celebrities like Jenny McCarthy have touted the positive effects of these diets in their own experiences, adding to the popularity of the “autism diet” and other special programs intended to improve the symptoms of autism.

Special Diets Difficult to Maintain in Schools

But any parent knows that sending a child to school on a special diet is no easy feat. Those with severe allergies to peanuts have perhaps the toughest time, making it necessary to avoid not only peanut or peanut butter-containing foods—but any food that has been manufactured in a plant that has also at one time contained peanuts, baked in a kitchen in the presence of peanuts, and so forth. For this reason, many parents choose to restrict their child’s diet to foods that only they provide directly.

In the case of autism, that’s probably your best bet when it comes to school. School cafeterias serve a wide variety of foods, and if you’re restricting gluten that same “prepared in the same kitchen” effect can apply here, too. Depending on the needs of your child, expecting them to recognize when they’ve been given something that doesn’t meet their dietary restrictions could be unrealistic.

The answer, of course, is to be strict and regimented about your child’s dietary needs. It’s best to pack a lunch each day, ensuring that your child is never exposed even to the smallest amount of casein or gluten-containing foods.

Are Dietary Restrictions Safe?

But you shouldn’t just outright restrict foods from your child’s diet without first consulting with a registered dietician. Because the link between diet and autism hasn’t been thoroughly researched or proven, skeptics still say that cutting out casein and gluten could lead to nutritional deficiencies in growing children.

For this reason, working with a dietician to establish a safe and effective dietary plan specific to your child is the best course of action. A dietician can also provide advice on making school lunches work, whether that means packing your child’s lunch each day with foods that won’t spoil in a few hours without refrigeration or working with the school cafeteria to provide appropriate menu items.

If you’re working with a dietary supplement, try to dose it in the morning before school and after school to avoid adding more complexity to your child’s day. If you must provide it during school hours, establish a clear and easy routine for your child to follow in conjunction with the school nurse.

It’s possible to follow a special diet for a child with ASD, even in the school setting. It requires some extra effort on your part and working closely with the school to ensure compliance, but the results can be well worth it. Is your child following a special diet? How do you make it work during the school year?

Your autistic child is heading back to school, to a new school, or to school for the first time. In any case, their safety is your top priority, and you can’t keep your watchful eyes on them 24-7 while they’re attending school.

There are ways to keep them safe even when they’re out of sight and under the care of a teacher. Here are a few ways to maintain safety in the school setting.

Get Involved at School

Easier said than done when you’re juggling a full-time career, therapy sessions, and managing autism at home, but the more involved you can be with school, the better. Join the PTA or go to school board meetings when possible. This lets you stay on top of situations and policies that could impact your child’s success.

Evaluate Physical Safety

Take a look around the school and classroom, identifying any triggers that could initiate behaviors in your child. Make sure there are adequate locks in appropriate areas to prevent your child from wandering or running away if over-stimulated.

Provide Educational Materials to Teachers

Hopefully your child’s educators are experienced in working with children with ASD, but more education never hurts. Most teachers will welcome new studies, advice on strategies that work to mediate specific behaviors in your child, and other educational materials that will help them connect with and teach your child effectively.

Check Into Anti-Bullying Programs

Does your child’s school have an anti-bullying program? Studies show that almost half (46 percent) of autistic children report having been bullied within the past year, compared to just 10 percent of non-affected children. Choosing a school with an adequate anti-bullying program is critical. If your school doesn’t have one, offer to create it.

Learn About Restraint Policies

How does your child’s school handle out-of-control behaviors? Research has shown that commonly used restraint practices in public schools have resulted in injuries to students. If you disagree with the school’s policies on restraints, inquire about work-around solutions and offer alternatives. If the school isn’t willing to work with you, it might be in your best interest to investigate other education settings.

Your child’s education is important, but safety is a significant concern for children with ASD. Working with your child’s school and being proactive will help maintain your child’s safety when you can’t be with him. What steps to do you take to ensure your autistic child’s safety at school?

You’re nervous about your autistic child starting a new school year. You worry about whether they’ll thrive in the new environment, whether the teacher will be successful in building the connection your child so desperately needs to foster a conducive learning environment.

Here’s a back-to-school prep checklist for autistic children.

• Talk up the positives of going back to school. Because children with ASD have trouble making and keeping friends, a new environment can cause extreme anxiety. Connect with fellow parents before school begins. Give your child a chance to create some social connections in advance.
• Stock up on snacks and lunch supplies. Running to the store in a frenzy during the first few weeks of the new school year won’t help you or your child. Have enough supplies on hand to make it through the first two weeks, so you can spend more time helping your child transition.
• Prepare visual cues. Autistic children rely heavily on visual cues. Make flashcards or print photos your child can relate to in order to facilitate communication. Your child’s teacher is then armed with a familiar tool to help her communicate with your child.
• Meet with the teacher. This is especially important if your child has a new teacher, but it’s a good idea regardless. Make sure the teacher is aware of any changes to your child’s habits or routines, any new challenges you’ve encountered over the summer and anything else she needs to know.
• Create a visual calendar. Get your child acquainted with the day-to-day schedules they’ll be exposed to at school, including what days of the week they’ll have different classes or special events. Use visuals and photos to demonstrate each event so your child can refer and understand easily.
• Change bedtimes in advance. If your child will soon be getting up earlier to get to school, start adjusting bedtime a few weeks in advance. This ensures your child has enough rest for attention and focus, while reducing the number of changes happening simultaneously.
• Coordinate therapy schedules. Often, autistic children have daytime therapy schedules during the summer. During the school year, it can be difficult to find an open time slot outside of school hours—so get on a waiting list as soon as possible.

Preparing your child, supplies and materials, and schedules for the start of a new school year gets both you and your child off on the right foot. A positive start to the school year sets the stage for your child’s success, so use this checklist to get things in order. What’s on your back-to-school checklist?

The start of a new school year is stressful for families of children with autism. Changes to the environment can be especially disturbing for some autistic kids, and parents are wracked with nerves and guilt over how well they’ll adapt to the new situation, new teachers, and new classmates.

There are some things you can do to help prepare your autistic child for the upcoming changes.

Take a Walk-Through of the School Before the First Day

Autistic children have a difficult time with transitions, so preparing them for changes in advance is helpful. Visit the school before the first day to give your child time to become familiar with the surroundings.

Where will he be sitting? Who will be his teacher for the year? If possible, try to build connections with familiarities – if your child will have some of the same classmates, eat lunch in a familiar cafeteria, or will be in the same room as last year.

Have a Clear Schedule

Autistic children thrive on routine. In the weeks and days leading up to the start of the school year, start following a similar schedule your child will have in the classroom. Is there time dedicated to reading?

Have lunch at the same time your child will eat at school, have your child work on math or reading, computer time, or free play at the same times of day. This will require some communication with your child’s teacher, but most educators are more than willing to work with you to aid in transitioning.

Create an “About Me” Portfolio

Help your child and your child’s teacher get to know each other. Because some autistic children have trouble communicating, create something that showcases your child’s strengths.

If your child is a visual communicator, have her put together pictures and draw images that represent things about her that the teacher should know. Have the teacher do the same to help your child feel comfortable with this new, strange person with whom she’ll be spending the majority of the day.

Transitioning to school from summer successfully is about making your child comfortable. Try to build familiarity for your child’s comfort, and gradually work into new routines for a smooth transition. How do you help your autistic child transition to new routines at the start of the school year?