Transitions and Change
Transitions and change happen regularly for many people as part of their daily lives. A transition might involve moving from one activity to another, or from one environment to another. We know that in some environments autistic young people may be able to work with a high level of independence, while in others, they will need strategies and supports in place.
Changes within environments can also impact on student needs, such as:
- who they are with
- what they are doing
- what they are feeling
- the time of day
This is why planning for any transition is important for young people.
Planning
Thorough planning of any transition or change provides opportunities for young autistic people to be successful. It is important for this planning to involve families, educators, others supporting them and the young person themselves.
Transition plans should focus on understanding the specific support needs of a young person through the use of different strategies. Plans will vary in length and detail depending on the support required for each person.
Webinars
We have a Primary School webinar and a Secondary School webinar on supporting transitions and change. Key discussion points include:
- school environments and the impact they have on transitions
- how individual strengths and interests can support transition planning
- strategies to support successful transitions and planning for change
- the value of a collaborative approach to planning that includes student voice.
Resources
The following resources are available for download:
- Primary School - webinar slide deck PDF
- Secondary School - webinar slide deck PDF
- Information Sheet - PDF
- Transition Checklist - Word Document (This document provides a template for developing a transition checklist. It includes some examples of what could be included)
