Transitioning to a New Autism Aide – Part One

The new aide

My son finished fifth grade with a new aide.

The new aide began in March and remained with my son until the end of the school year.

During fifth grade, the teacher, RSP person, and the principal all agreed that he had made tremendous progress and that he was “ready” to go without an aide.

How long was the original aide with my son?

My sonʼs original school aide had been with him for almost six years. She got assigned to him at the end of kindergarten and she returned for the next five years.

When she started with my son, she was nineteen. When she left last March, she was twenty-six.

At first, it was rough for her to be an aide to autistic child. She had had no experience with special needs kids. The school sent her to training and I worked with her on my own.

By first or second grade, she had a decent idea of how to work with a child with behavior issues. She had a working knowledge of autism, and she had the desire to learn more.

We were lucky to have consistency

Why? Because had the same aide for six years.

First, we liked this person. She was a good match for our son and he did progress.

Each year, we requested the same aide. And, we got her (she also returned to the job each year).

By fourth grade, the teacher commented about my son and the aide. “Sometimes itʼs like theyʼre brother and sister. Some days they get along just fine, while others….”

For the most part, my son and his aide developed a decent relationship. They had a shorthand form of communication. It was comforting for all of us.

What did we think about a change?

The long-time aide had been working this job while she put herself through college. Finally, she graduated. Her college degree was not in education.

Therefore, we knew she’d eventually leave her aide job.

Our guess was she would leave the summer before fifth grade. However, the job market was tough and she returned to be my sonʼs aide for fifth grade.

It was a delight for her to see my child’s accomplishments and growth in fifth grade. He really was becoming more independent.

By fifth grade, we wanted the aide to back off at times. With instruction from the RSP person, the aide used a modified schedule that allowed for some independence for our son.

A few months later, the day came when my sonʼs aide got a new job. The transition to a new autism aide was about to begin.

How did we tell our son?

In one way, we were losing a good friend of the family. She wasnʼt going away forever (she still lived nearby), but it did sort of feel like that.

We had grown comfortable with this aide. She was sweet and caring and adored my son. Plus, she wanted him to succeed.

However, we knew this young woman had plans for her life. She had put herself through college for a reason. When she was ready, I knew we had to let her go.

We explained this to our son.

I told him that his aide had found a new job and she was going to be leaving. I stressed that she had put herself through college for a different field of work and now she had to move forward with her own life. She was getting married soon and she had a new job. She was getting all she deserved.

It’s not his fault

We stressed that this change was not his fault. It was natural change that happens all the time.

I told him his aide loved working with him and cared about him.

He accepted the change. His independence was just beginning and perhaps this was good timing.

In conclusion, I found this guide/tips to help classroom aides. Check it out.

http://colotraining.com/pdf/10_tips_for_school_aids_to_ASD.pdf