How do you transition your child’s aide?

Aides come in all shapes and sizes. Some have behavioral degrees, others are just kids in college who need a job (they may not have much or any expereince).

These folks have lives just like anyone. Many are younger (20’s). Just like all of us, aides change jobs, get married, and go back to school.

In general, many aide jobs do not pay well. We once lost a very good aide because her job simply wasn’t paying the bills.

What does this lead to…transitions. Aides move on and our autistic kids have to get used to yet another aide.

How do you transition your child’s aide?

Hopefully, the aide gives you some notice.

Two weeks is typical, yet some aides are very cognizant of their clients’ sensitivities and give longer notice.

This means that many aides understand a transition may be difficult.

It doesn’t always work out that way.

Things happen in life. With that in mind, the worse situation for our kids (in my opinion) is when the aide gives you absolutely no notice.

This leads to things like you show up to a service and the aide has been replaced.

Or, your service is cancelled because the facility has to find a new aide or facilitator.

This is not only a bad situation for your child–who may struggle with transitions–but I believe it reflects badly on the outgoing aide.

I consider it a responsibility/maturity issue. Some people don’t see it that way.

(Of course, last minute situations happen in life. Family tragedies and transitions can happen quickly and there may be no fault. I really don’t have a problem with something like that, even though that’s been rare in my experience.)

Why do some aides just leave?

Again, sometimes things just happen and people have to leave.

What bothers me most is I have experienced people who do not plan ahead well.They do not care about the sensibilities of our kids.

These aides don’t seem to consider our kids and how tough it is for some of them to transition.

What else should help a transition?

Along with a decent amount of outgoing notice, I’d like to see some overlap in aides.

The aides can overlap for they can work together for a session or two (or a day or two).

Talk to your child.

Talk to your child about the transition. Let him/her know that so-and-so got a new job (or whatever it is) and she/he will be gone in two weeks.

You can talk to them about the reason for the change. Explain to them that people need to change jobs from time to time. Let them know it’s okay and they can get to know the new person.

It’s not their fault. A new person can turn out to be just fine.

Try not to get too mad about the transitions because they are usually out of your control.

The aide might be a decent person who just has to move on. Try to feel good for that aide.

It may cause some issues on your end, but your child has to get used to transitions and change.

Life will throw a lot of them out there. Maybe by practicing change, they can get used to it.

Here are some helpful tips to help your child with transitions.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4559135_help-autistic-children-transitions.html