There are people in the world who wonder why I do what I do. I get a comment on it almost daily. "Why do you do BLANK for the special ed kids? Especially when it comes to school field trips.
"They don't know what that is all about."
"They would rather be home watching TV"
"What are they going to get out of it?"
"It's too much work."
And, unfortunately, there are still those that frequently comment on why special ed children are even allowed in school.
There are so many things an autistic child can learn from a field trip it is hard for me to even know where to start.
1. Experiencing the world
Getting out and about in the world...experiencing new places and meeting new people makes any individual more well-rounded. I always tell people who live in our small town, they need to move to city somewhere far away and live for at least a year, just to have the experience and see what life is like in other places. It really opens your eyes to so many cultural things and you become more thoughtful about the dynamics of where you live. Being Autistic doesn't make that fact not true. They are seeing, tasting, hearing and feeling things outside of their normal life that help them to understand the world better and in more depth. It also helps with their overwhelming anxiety to experience new things and realize everything is still o.k.
2. Learning to cope with new places
Maybe the soda from the fountain tastes different because the water they use to mix it is different. Maybe the sound of the bumps in the road are different. Maybe the air smells different because of the trees and dirt. Learning to cope with these changes of a new place will increase their awareness of the outside world and help them to compare and contrast things they may never have had the chance to before.
3. Learning to cope in large groups of people
There is a certain energy about a crowd. You can feel it when you get too close, and especially when the crowd is anxious or excited, it can be very unsettling for an autistic child. I find staying calm just outside of that surge of energy....a few feet back, is the best way to help the child cope. Still close enough to hear, see, smell, sense the idea of what is going on around him/her, but not close enough to become so overwhelmed a meltdown may be in order. Keep him/her calm with familiar songs, toys, games, rocking, cuddling. (I save the extra special lap-time or cuddle time for these very tense moments, because at a certain point the child gets older and those sort of things become inappropriate.) Even if the child will be in a group home, dealing with crowds at the care facility or on outings will be a must. It will be much easier if the child is exposed to it frequently, to help build a tolerance for social situations. Learning how to act appropriately in public, like being quiet (if that concept is understood), personal space issues (if the child likes to caress hair or clothing of strangers), and to keep their mannerisms calm as well (if this is also understood),
*My son is 15 and has autism. He giggles to himself and spins in circles at home, but he knows when we are on an outing he must refrain. I believe self-control helps the child to pull out of his/her "head" and join the real world when it is appropriate to do so. When it is his free time, he can do as he pleases to stim or spin in a way that is familiar and comfortable to him.
4. Learning to cope around new people
People sound, smell, feel and look different, each and everyone, which can be overwhelming to a child who is very sensitive and detail oriented. Helping him/her to be comfortable and not scared by a new person is essential for a fulfilling adult life.
5. Learning to adjust to a different schedule
I personally like to keep schedules the same for my autistic friends. I know it eases their anxiety and it helps to keep them calmer when a change does occur. When we are on an outing, I like to incorporate the same phrases where applicable and mini routines he/she will recognize from school. We might set up our lunch the same way we would at school, using the same key phrases. We always do the same bathroom routine, even using picture cards he/she is familiar with from school. In a way, I want them to know that even though there are changes and it will be a little frightening, I am there and I will keep you safe and calm. I do not talk much on field trips...my job is to show the anxious child I am calm. He/she can sense my mood and judge my actions very easily. Also, if you are too worried about getting your own social time in, how can you focus on the needs of the child? The day is not about you. The children I have worked with can tell quickly when they are being ignored, and tend to act up, get into things, revert to bad behaviors, whine, or have bathrooming accidents when this occurs.
6. Learning to use public restrooms.
This to me is the most important reason to take a child on frequent outings. Many people do not like public restrooms for various reasons and the autistic child is no different times 10. They are concerned about the sound, the echo, the feeling of the toilet, is it too high, too low, too cold, too warm, how does it flush?, does it flush on it's own?, how small is the stall?. how does the toilet paper feel?, is it rough?, is it soft?, how does it smell? etc etc.
I like to start every entering of a building with a bathroom break....just get it out of the way first thing. We enter a new place, we find the bathroom and we go through our routine. In early potty-training years, I have brought a picture schedule from school with each step on it and candy for a reward for handling the situation appropriately.
There is never a question if the child has to go or not, we go, go through our routine and try. That's it. This is best to avoid accidents and rid one of the need for diapers.
7. Learning to cope under different sensory overload, such as sound, texture, temperatures
Everything around him/her will be bombarding this child. I like to have my bag-o-tricks handy. I start with the expectation of the child having to sit quietly and "listen" for an appropriate amount of time...each child is different. When I know the child has done his/her best at this, we may start with a special fidget that he/she only gets to use on fieldtrips. This is only done if the child has not melted down to receive the toy, which would be reinforcing the negative behavior. Carefully watching them should tell you when they are getting agitated before the meltdown if you are observant. Rocking may be a cue or hand wringing, etc.
When that fidget has lost it's appeal, I may have another fidget, or maybe a favorite book. After a while of good behavior, we may sit down and have a snack. It is good to change objects with each transition as well. This type of ritual makes sense to autistic children and helps them to remain calm and cope.
My last resort, before technology, would be candy. I believe candy should also only be used in delicate situations such as this.
For a big-time upset, like a bus breakdown or traffic jam stand-still, I get out the Ipad. I hesitate to do this too soon in the trip, as the child loses out on many learning experiences when immersed in the technology. They are missing out on the learning experiences I mentioned earlier.
8. Any teaching opportunities that may arise.
I like looking for ways my child can learn while on an outing...something they may be working on as a goal at school, or something difficult for them. For example, if a child had trouble going up the stairs, maybe he/she only stepped up with the right foot instead of right left right left....take the time and be patient and encourage them to use their right, then left, then right, then left. If they struggle opening doors, be patient and let him/her open the door when entering a room. Praise them and be excited for their efforts.
Never overlook an opportunity to teach. Take chances and try new things with autistic individuals. Instead of thinking what they can't do, think about what they just might be able to do, if you were only to try. Kids in general live up to what they are expected to do. If we just expect these children to be constantly cared for and secluded in the house, that's what they will be. We have to give them the chance to reach their potential. You just might be surprised!
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