As restrictions ease, we now need to adjust to the new Covid ‘normal’. This can be difficult for children with ASD as they have had to adjust to the unprecedented events of COVID-19 and now need to adjust to the new ‘normal’.
What COVID ‘normal’ may look like now:
• Masks continue to be an ongoing requirement
• Hand sanitiser will continue to be a safety protocol.
• Queuing is now the norm when visiting health professionals or going to the shops.
• Public transport drivers wearing masks and gloves and social distancing on buses will make it look very different looks very different
• Holidays will not be the same with social distancing, activities being restricted, accommodation having their own rules.
• Gatherings whether it may be family and friends gather
ing, attending sports matches or parties have changed with social distancing.
• Schools have implemented their own safety precautions such as picking up students at the gate, not being able to drop your child off at their classroom, teachers wearing masks, children social distancing, using hand sanitiser etc.
• Working from home may continue for some parents which will be another adjustment for both parents and children.
• Dining out will look different as orders may be placed on phones rather than physical menus and social distancing measures will be in place.
• Hand sanitiser, gloves and masks will more than likely continue to be safety protocols. If you have not been taking your child out during this period of isolation, start practising using these items.
TIPS
• Visual schedules – helps the child understand expectations. You can create a visual schedule for places that you will go to and/or visual schedules for how and when to use hand sanitiser or masks.
• Social story – create a social story that will visually represent social situations and expected behaviours. Below is an example of a social story for social distancing: https://paautism.org/resource/social-distancing-social-story/
• Video – can be a great way to model expected behaviours and familiarise yourselves with what is going on outside of the home environment. This is an example of a great video about the Covid ‘normal’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86CuDvNIhbU • Call ahead – It is a good idea to call ahead to where you are going and ask what their expectations are as it will help you prepare your child.
• Create routines and keep them consistent
• Sensory Needs – Anticipate your child’s sensory needs and be prepared by slowing familiarising your child with them such as wearing a mask and using hand sanitiser. Provide positive re-enforcement and explain why they are necessary. Experiment with different types of masks and materials. Here is a great social story for wearing a mask: https://www.autism.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/I-can-wear-a-mask-1- 1.pdf
Written by Senali Alahakone – Speech Pathologist at De Silva Kids Clinic.
