Autumn is full of transitions.  For most it means back to the regular schedule of life.  School is starting for both students and teachers, fall sports are making their debut, and the weather is changing. All of these things can bring both excitement and anxiety and all of them can also impact communication.  Here are some helpful tips to make the season bright and colorful!

• Provide a visual schedule of the new routine – include pictures, words, times, and anything that will help with the adjustment.
• Discuss when and where changes will be happening – maybe it’s an earlier bedtime or more home time on the weekends and think about creating social stories to help.
• Practice the changes – go to bed earlier or tour the new places a person might be going.
• Consider augmentative and alternative communication needs – are new icons needed on their AAC device to reflect new activities, are other low-tech options needed for various locations?
• Meet new communication partners in advance – to clarify communication needs and ensure they are familiar with how to best support communication.
• Prepare for sensory changes – are there clothing changes, smells, temperature changes that may impact the person? Consider if fidgets will help, quiet spaces, down time, or something else
• Update Communication Profile – develop or update the communication profile so that it accurately reflects current wants and needs
• Open Dialogue – talk about the changes and what is needed along the way and adapt as necessary

Here are some helpful links as you consider all that the fall season has to offer!

My+Communication+Profile.pdf (palms-awss3-repository.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com)

Course: Wonderful World of Visual Schedules | MyODP