1st grade for Aspie.. your "modifications" ideas ?

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Hello all,

Well, my son starts 1st grade next Monday. IEP already in place since kindergarden.

We are meeting with school counselors on Friday to go over some modifications they can put in place to help him focus during classtime and also, especially for socializational help.

I've thought that giving him the daily task of taking the lunch count ... where he goes around the classroom with the kids names on a chart and getting "their lunch orders" would be a beginning.

Please, ... any other ideas

See if they can designate a "chill-out" area in the classroom, where he can go if things get overwhelming for him. A weighted blanket in that area can provide additional comfort. (I'm making a couple of weighted blankets for my son's 1st grade classroom.) The other kids in the class may find this useful as well. It's tough figuring it all out. My son started school on Monday and, three days into the school year, we've already had issues. But I'm hoping that once he's more comfortable with the new routine things will smooth out. The tough part is getting theses kids to admit when they need to take a chill. My son can't (or won't) recognize that yet.

Thanks.... my son already, often insists on wearing long sleeved shirts and jeans/pants in 90 degree weather...it seems to comfort him to have all his body parts covered, .....so, this weighted blanket idea may help.

What is a weighted blanket, what does it do for an Aspie child, and where can I get one ? Are they expensive ???

Thanks for your input ! !! !! !! !!!1

A weighted blanket is usually two layers of fabric with some sort of material to provide weight sewn between the layers and confined into baffles. Poly pellets are usually used, although for a blanket of my son's I used beans -- but it can't be washed with beans or any organic material. You can wash a weighted blanket made with poly pellets. If an Aspie has sensory issues -- and most do -- it can provide a very secure feeling and some deep pressure. The ones I'm making for my son's class now are much bigger than a lap pad but not quite as big as a blanket, sort of a happy medium. Big enough to cover up with. I'm going to make them in the 8 to 10 pound range. If you Google "weighted blanket", or go to Ebay and search for "weighted blanket", you'll find several places where you can buy them. They can be expensive, which is why I'm making my own (I'm a stay-at-home father who sews. One never knows one's destiny.)

Good deal.

Thanks, Masonjar. I'm gonna find one and bring it to his classroom.

The weighted thing is a good idea....our grandson would carry his books in a big bag, not your so called back pack but also a duffle bag...something about the weight helps....and also, having to walk a ways in the morning is good too! Be sure not to try to rush him in the morning....

where can you but poly-pellets??? I have been wanting to make a weighted lap pad for my son, I had asked at the fabric store if they sold any kind of stuffing that was "heavy" compared to regular polyester. They told me they didn't have anything. I was going to go with the beans and hope to get away with surface cleaning.

About these poly pellets: I found them at both Hobby Lobby and at Michael's. At HL they were with the doll-making stuff, and at Michael's they were with the polyester stuffing for dolls and pillows and such stuff. At Michael's they're actually called Poly Pellets, but at HL they're called something else, but they're basically the very same thing.

Some of the schools around here have a "buddy program" where students are trained to be "buddies" to other students, particularly new students, but also ones who have a hard time socially, usually they are matched with children in their own class but if necessary an older child will be paired with a younger child. You can ask the school about doing something similar - at the very least, the teacher could identifity a few friendly students in the first few weeks, and encourage them to socialize with him.
Also, check to see if BBBS does lunch buddies in your school.

I've mentioned elswehere about IEP's that involve a core group of students that will always be in the child's general classes - its too late to make sure his best friends from kindergarten are in his class this year though. however, it would be great if you could have him look over his class list and identify friends - then these students could be seated next to him.

In the future try to arrange it so he meets up with his new teacher a few times before the first day of school - often "problem" and "special" children are placed in classrooms before the last school year has ended. I know the first grade teachers were deciding on which of the problem children they wanted last April (it was so each was going to get one, and they all had their preference over which one, which thankfully were three different preferences).

It would also be good to work with your son to find out how he prefers to be redirected when he gets offtask so that the IEP doesn't end up by saying something like, "Johnny, put that pencil down and open your book" when he finds it utterly humiliating to have his name said in a redirection (as a couple aspies of pointed out they do elsewhere.) You might have to write down some examples and say, "Johnny, how would you feel if I said this when you weren't following directions. Do you think it would help you do what you are supposed to or would it make you angry?"

Wow, Thanks Triangular trees ! !!

A lot of the things you suggest the school do, have been done. He got to meet 1st grade teacher twice before the other students and he was placed with her before Kindergarden ended. She is a perfect fit Thank God ! !!

Also, they have the speech therapists taking him on Mondays and Fridays for 30 minutes each time to be part of a group of 3 other children like him. They are teaching social skills and many other beneficial lessons to this group of children.

I feel so fortunate to be with this group of educators (RRISD). They really seem to be genuine in their endeavors to help my Aspie son.

(Laura) Menameslaura.

If you must use organic materials you could make the blanket like a duvet cover so that the outer layer can be removed for the wash while the inner layer stays dry.

be careful with the weighted blankets....there are weight reccomendations on them. can't remember now what they are, but i do know that you don't want to make the blanket too heavy & that making it too light isn't that great either.

Thanks for all your replies... Triangular trees, I think I relate with your advice the most because they are doing some of the things like the "buddies". He goes Mond/Friday during school to a social skills group with four other children, and that is also helping.

Honestly, I don't think we need a weighted blanket though. Thanks for the idea anyway. All ideas are appreciated.