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June, 2006
Tips for Parents
by Becky Lowe
Ideas for
Summer
The
first few summers after Katie was diagnosed, I
dreaded the end of the school year. I did not know
what to do with all our free time and was constantly
worried about her losing skills and regressing.
Katie was six years old when we first worked with
the Brent Woodall Foundation so I had several “bad”
summers behind us. Since that time, everything has
changed. My husband and I understand Katie better
and that makes us better parents! Here are some
ideas for the summer…
·
Ask
your school district for Extended School Year
services (ESY). Many districts now have summer
programs specifically set up for their autistic
students. These classes focus on socialization and
building on skills. Unfortunately, not all
districts have this available, so you will need to
be creative! You may want to look into a summer
school program that your district offers for
students with varying disabilities. Your county may
also offer something similar to this. Many major
cities have camps that offer specific services for
autistic children and their families. You can
offset the cost of some of these services by asking
the district for ESY and having them pay for it.
Many counties offer “Family Resource Funds” for
children with disabilities. These funds can usually
be used for a summer program. Contact your county’s
MRDD office and talk to your Case Manager. If you
do not have a Case Manager, you can get one through
your local MRDD.
·
Many local recreation centers and city pools offer
swimming lessons through Easter Seals or other
similar organizations. These classes are usually
offered at little to no cost to the family.
·
Ask
other parents and teachers what services are
available! Networking with other parents is a great
way to find out about local services.
·
Contact your local college and ask if they offer any
summer programs for children. We have one local
college that runs a summer program for children with
IEPs. The program is run by the education
department and graduate students work with children
on a 1:2 ratio. They develop a “mini IEP” for the
child and work with them 4 days a week. You may
also ask that the education department post a notice
for students that may be interested in working with
you child over the summer.
If
your child is transitioning from one school to
another, make sure to contact the new school ASAP.
You will want to schedule an opportunity for your
child to tour the school over the summer and meet
their new teacher(s). Principals are usually very
accommodating and want new or transitioning students
to feel as comfortable as possible. You can go to
the playground several times over the summer and
talk about all the fun and new things that the
school has to offer.
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