As many of our children have either started their school year or are preparing to return, we must be mindful of one big emotion…anxiety. You may observe tantrums or outbursts which appear to be out of the ordinary. Ultimately, it’s a manifestation of their anxiety and more than likely they are unaware they are feeling this way.

We’ve been asked to accept a tremendous amount of change over the last eighteen months. At first, many of us rolled with it, but it has worn thin on many with a general sentiment of anger. I tend to believe a lot of us have been asked to accept change when we think about school for our children.

Anxiety that begins to interfere with everyday functioning can happen to our children as well. For example, children may consistently blurt out in class or constantly talk. More often than not, the adults misread this behavior. This could lead to the belief that the student is a behavior problem, is being disrespectful, lacks focus, or more seriously showing signs of A.D.D. (Attention Deficit Disorder) or A.D.H.D. (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).

Have you sat in a parent-teacher conference and became lost as to what was being shared with you? It’s ok if you do not understand. School is not the same as it was when we attended. You may want to know more about your child’s continued struggles with reading or math, or your child’s inability to focus after lunch.

Autism awareness, like many other things, should not be limited to one month per year. We must continue to support each other and find ways to be inclusive within our own communities. One of the areas not often discussed or observed is what it looks like for individuals with Autism to find meaningful employment.

What may have begun as just an outlet became a resource, providing a feeling of connectedness for many. These parents will be the first to share that they are not experts on autism, but they willingly offer their experiences and learns.

One way to help family and friends understand SPD is to try to use connections based on their own personal experiences. Begin to think about what your reaction is when you smell freshly brewed coffee or when someone vomits. Our brain sends a response that causes us to react. When I smell freshly brewed coffee it sends a signal to my brain which makes me want coffee.

April brings us to Autism Awareness Month. Children with autism are extremely amazing individuals and as this month begins, I am flooded with all the wonderful students and families I have been connected with throughout my career. You are there to not only witness the amazing moments but to see the challenges.

Parenting our children is one of the hardest “roles” I have ever had the honor to encounter. Having worked most of my career within schools, my experience had always been from the educator’s perspective. However, once we had children, I would join the other side of the table as a parent.

My area of expertise and pride point is focused around behaviors. I gravitate toward the students who exhibit the most outward of behaviors. It’s critical to understand that many students, regardless of having a disability or not, are communicating through how they behave. Really think on that for a moment and think of examples where you’ve seen that in your life.

I find it unacceptable when I hear stories of families being told their child is “not failing” so there is no need for Special Education services. Why should failure dictate need? Another scenario that pains me, is when parents have been requesting an evaluation for years and get the runaround from the school.