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Adapting to a New Season When There Are Different Needs

May the Fall Force Be with You

By Karen Kaplan

The Fall equinox is here, and the weather is changing. The force of nature is evident as leaves change colors and fall from the trees. Rain may be on its way, and soon, there will be puddles to jump in and perhaps see our reflections in. Nights are cooler, and some of us are beginning to wear warmer layers of clothing.


What does this new force mean to children, teens, and adults with different needs?


Change is often challenging for people on the autism spectrum and other different abilities. So, how can we all help make the force of Fall positive? Here are some exciting ideas to celebrate the new season:


  • Create a social story Home - Carol Gray - Social Stories (carolgraysocialstories.com) and discuss the four seasons. Use pictures of your neighbor or community changing during each. Talk about the weather, nature, holidays, or special events each season. Discuss how they might need to wear different shoes, warmer or cooler clothing, gloves, or a hat, and even use an umbrella.

  • Help them re-organize their closets and drawers, talking about the right kinds of clothing that they may need now that the weather is getting cooler.

  • Bring out the umbrella rack and place it at the front door. Please talk about the need to put the umbrellas they used in the container. For some, it might be time to get reacquainted with the umbrella.

  • Visit the farm markets and point out what new foods are in season and what the farmers have harvested. Fall is a time of harvesting. You might point out and name the different kinds of squash in season, pumpkins of all colors and shapes, and peppers of yellow, purple, red, and green. If there are no local farmer markets, the grocery stores are great, too.

  • If possible, discuss how light changes. Today, there is equal dark and light, but as we move into winter, there is less light, and as we move into spring, it is lighter.

  • Visit a pumpkin farm.

  • Visit a nursery and see what flowers and plants enjoy the Fall. Which ones grow during this time?

  • You might take out the calendar and put an X indicating the Fall months. Then, circle special dates, birthdays, holidays, or special events during these months.

  • Go to a Halloween Store. Support choosing a costume for the special event.

  • If they allow it, paint their fingernails or toenails orange or black with ghosts or pumpkins.

  • Collect all the different colors of leaves and make an art project. See the positive nature of Fall.

  • Go to the library. Check out some beautiful Fall picture books or children’s story books.


Just remember to let the positive force of Fall be with you.

 

Karen Kaplan, MS, is a native San Franciscan. She completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in speech pathology and audiology at Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona. She minored in special education and obtained her speech therapist and special education credentials in California. Karen worked as a speech therapist for schools for 20 years before opening her own residential and education program for students with autism. She worked in credential programs at Sacramento State University as well as UC Davis and spent 20 years directing private schools for those with autism and similar learning challenges. Karen founded a non-profit, Offerings, which helps cultures globally to understand those with developmental challenges. For seven years, she founded and facilitated an autism lecture series and resource fair in Northern California. Karen still facilitates an annual Autism Awesomeness event. She is currently consulting, helping families, schools, and centers for children, teens, and adults. Karen has authored three books: Reach Me Teach Me: A Public School Program for the Autistic Child; A Handbook for Teachers and Administrators, On the Yellow Brick Road: My Search for Home and Hope for the Child with Autism, and Typewriting to Heaven… and Back: Conversations with My Dad on Death, Afterlife and Living (which is not about autism but about having important conversations with those we love).

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