Transitioning from
one level to another for any student and his or her family brings
feelings of anxiety, anticipation, hope and fear. For students on
the autism spectrum each of these feelings is intensified as change
is anxiety-ridden and often frightening. Students and parents can
spend years adjusting to an environment, staff, rules, routines,
social demands, peer relationships and expectations only to have
their world turned upside down almost overnight. If transitions are
not handled in a structured and meaningful manner, adjustment problems,
psychological stress, and feelings of negative self-worth may result.
Further, a trusting relationship between home and school may be damaged.
To avoid these problems and make the transition experience
as positive as possible, parents and teachers must be proactive in
transition
planning. This ICAN section is designed to assist staff and parents
of children
with ASD in planning and implementing an appropriate transition from
elementary to middle school. An effective transition plan should:
Introduction: Why Transition Planning?