What Does “Back To School” Look Like For Your Child With Autism During Covid-19?

“Back to school” is right around the corner and it will likely look different this year due to Covid-19. Do you have a “back to school” plan? Read on or tune in to our live webinar next week to learn more about the options available to you and your family. 

First, How Do Children With Autism Learn? 

Each child with Autism is unique but some commonalities in learning needs include: 

-Consistent & repetitive learning environments 

-One on one learning environments 

-Hands-on learning environments 

-Customized learning plans to help meet their individual goals 

-Increased staffing sizes if in a group/classroom setting

How can your ABA therapy team help with “Back To School?” 

If your child is currently in an ABA therapy program, your first step should be to speak with your dedicated Behavior Analyst. They will be able to help you review the info provided by the school district, and assess the potential gaps in learning or safety concerns and how they can be addressed. 

What are your “Back To School” options? 

1. ABA therapy + In-School Learning 

If your school district has announced that they will host in-person learning, then they may have also put requirements in place for children to wear masks, stay 6 ft apart, etc. Your dedicated behavior analyst may suggest adjusting your child’s individualized ABA therapy program to improve compliance with mask-wearing, hand washing, and social distancing. 

2. ABA therapy + In-Home Learning 

Many school districts have provided the option to attend k12 / Special Education learning from home. ABA therapy can be used to help your child adhere to their educational learning plan provided by the state. Having a dedicated behavior technician in the home consistently may help your child stay on track with their learning goals and maintain a routine. Home-based ABA therapy teams have been reduced to limit the number of behavior technicians in your home to reduce risk of exposure to covid-19 while maintaining an ABA therapy program. 

3. “Full-Time” ABA Therapy

-For younger children on the Autism spectrum, this is an opportune time to take full advantage of their prescribed ABA therapy program. Ask your dedicated behavior analyst if your child is receiving all of the prescribed and authorized ABA therapy hours they are able to access.

-Ask about availability for Center-based ABA therapy services. Center-based services may provide more flexibility for families. ABS ABA Therapy centers comply with CDC guidelines. 

-Full-time ABA therapy programs are an excellent way to provide a learning environment custom-tailored to your child with Autism. 

The Importance of Following Your Child’s Prescribed Treatment Program Through Covid-19: 

-Consistency is key. Whichever “back to school” option your family moves forward with, make sure you stay consistent and create a routine. This will help with potential anxiety your child may experience, as well as help them meet their goals. 

-The child receives higher quality care when they receive the number of ABA therapy hours they are prescribed. Check-in with your Behavior Analyst regularly to ensure your child is receiving the number of ABA therapy hours they have been prescribed. 

-Early, intensive ABA therapy programs are clinically proven to help children reach their greatest potential. If your child is under 6, take full advantage of your ABA therapy program. The more one on one learning at a young age, the better. 

-Meeting the prescribed number of hours in an ABA therapy program means that a child has a better shot of learning new skills by utilizing the “practice effect” of treatment to produce effective results. 

Please let your dedicated Behavior Analyst know if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing you at the webinar on Wednesday, July 29th!