Summer is here, and for many students, that means a serious break from academics and a time for fun and relaxation. However, for many kids on the autism spectrum, it also includes increasing therapy sessions. Getting additional speech or occupational therapy during the school year can be challenging, so the summer is a great time to add more sessions.

For children or teenagers like my son, this summer also means transitioning from middle school to high school. The transition from fifth grade to sixth grade was scary for me, but now that my son has entered the “teenager” phase, it’s even scarier. He will have to handle a larger school with students ranging from ages 14 to 19, and that worries me. I feel like shouting, “Dorothy, we are no longer in Kansas,” but as a mom who has handled numerous challenges, I know we can overcome the beginning of the high school phase.

Whenever my son is about to enter a new phase in his life, I usually make two planners – one physical and one digital. You can choose whichever one suits you best to keep your child’s information organized. Personally, I like having both because items can sometimes get lost with technology. Many organizations have planners such as TACA (The Autism Community in Action) that are extremely helpful for keeping track of information.

Before summer started, I made an effort to attend numerous events designed for high school students with special needs. My goal was to collect and organize as much information as possible. In the planner, I have sections or folders that contain a list of my son’s therapies, recent evaluations, IEP’s, and essential resources. I categorize physical resources into areas such as volunteering, employment, and applicable camps for the near future, as well as a separate section for future events. For the virtual planner, I include links to the various companies and camps.

During any transition, organization is key. It is important not to become overwhelmed during the midst of camps, therapies, and summer fun activities. You do not want to be burdened by tedious work. Doing a little at a time will help in getting items together.

As I continue on this journey of transition this summer, I am preparing to meet teachers, therapists at my son’s high school as well as look for activities he can be a part of during the school year.

I am also giving myself grace and some time to just enjoy my son outside of academics and therapies. It is still summer and we should “kick up our heels” a bit and enjoy the break as much as possible.