Dear Parents of Special Needs Learners
- amykdtobik2
- Nov 3
- 4 min read
By Karen Kaplan, MS
Dear Parents of Special Needs Learners,
In this time of much upheaval and uncertainty regarding the education of your child, perhaps some of these tips will uplift and help you have hope and see possibilities of what you can do to continue their education:
Connect with others on a similar journey for understanding, connection, and help.
Learn everything you can about your individual’s rights and be their positive voice.
Remember, you can also become the teacher, the speech therapist, the behavior changer, and the occupational therapist. Utilize what you already have in your home and community to expand your skills and knowledge.
You too can help build motor skills. They can:
Take out the garbage cans and bring them back in
Strip their bed and carry sheets to the laundry room
Put away the groceries
Get the mail and bring it in
Make their lunch and fill their backpack
Help pull weeds and water
Help fold towels and put them away
Buy art supplies and have them engage in art activities
Go to different parks with different types of equipment to engage in
Take swim lessons and learn to ride a bike
You, too, can help build independent living skills. Teach them to:
Brush teeth, wash hands, and comb hair
Put clothes away
Turn on and off water faucets
Cook
Turn the lights on and off
Find things in grocery stores
Take walks in the neighborhood; crossing streets is a safety necessity
Schedule doctor appointments
Perhaps they can learn to change a light bulb, lock doors, vacuum, sweep, and mop.
You, too, can help build communication skills. You can:
Provide choices that they can make
Give them simple one-part directions to follow, and then add direction
Help find items in the grocery store, count items, and help put away
Help them call or text a friend, or email a grandparent to say hello or wish them a happy birthday
Play games with them that require matching, categorizing, taking turns
Play charades if possible
Help them identify fruits in the grocery store, then move on to vegetables, and possibly types of drinks.
Help them sort laundry darks and whites or different colors
You too can help build social skills in the home and community: Help them:
Host a party and have them decorate, design activities, and make invitations
Have a friend during lunchtime
Host a BBQ night
Have a friend and or family game time
Say hello when on a walk in the community
Learn to ask which aisle items are in the grocery store and say thank you
Ask where to find books they like at the library
Call grandparents and let them know they are thought of
Write thank-you notes after receiving a gift
You, too, can teach to expand their cognitive skills. You can:
Read to them, then ask who, what, why, where, and when questions after each page or chapter
Teach them to create a shopping list for grocery shopping
Teach them to identify money
Take them to a Bank and teach them about savings
Take them to museums and art galleries to expand their knowledge
Take them to nurseries to learn about plants and trees.
Take them to the zoo and aquarium to learn about animals, reptiles, and fish
Parents, you can increase behaviors by cheering each step towards a skill that they take. Be a model, be a mentor, and most of all be a cheerleader. Clap, smile, and say hooray with each accomplishment. This is positive reinforcement.
You can introduce new concepts by using the First/Then concept. Tell your individual first try this and then you can do __________ (something they love). Why "First, Then" Actually Works - The Autism Helper
Find stickers they love of their favorite characters and give them stickers for making good choices, following directions, and trying.
Make a list of all their enthusiasms and interests and likes and use those to motivate and teach.
Use planned ignoring Behavior Support - Using Planned Ignoring at Home whenever you can and just redirect Redirecting Behavior: How to Deal with Challenging Behavior them into a positive action.
Whenever possible, prepare them for change. Use Carol Grays Social Story Concept to prepare them for change. The New Social Story Book, Revised and Expanded 15th Anniversary Edition: Over 150 Social Stories that Teach Everyday Social Skills to Children and Adults with Autism and their Peers: Gray, Carol: 9781941765166: Amazon.com: Books
Parents, the school building is only one way to help your individual expand their skill sets. Your home and community are also environments that provide teaching opportunities and new and different learning possibilities.
Karen Kaplan, MS, is a native San Franciscan. She completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, in speech pathology and audiology. 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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