Navigating the Corona Lockdown - for children/ persons with special needs

It is true that a certain amount of structure and proceeding in a predictable planned manner helps children/Students with intellectual disabilities  to function better .Where there are major changes to this structure or schedule they may find it difficult to adapt initially  .

The solution lies in creating a new routine that is comfortable for the child  .

Step 1: Explain to the child /student using visuals and videos about the Corona virus and its hazards as well as the personal safety procedures to be followed like hand washing , mask , social distancing etc .The child may need to be taught these new habits .

@AMAZE we immediately created two power point presentations to explain in simple terms about the Corona Virus and the Safety precautions .We shared this with our student’s families and widely in the disability community .

http://navigatetheautismmaze.blogspot.com/2020/04/about-corona-virus.html

http://navigatetheautismmaze.blogspot.com/2020/04/precautions-to-prevent-covid-19.html

Step 2 : Create a calendar and help the child understand how many days the lockdown is going to be . Emphasize from the beginning that this may be extended if we are not safe to go out

@AMAZE we created a Countdown calendar which will serve as visual tool to help cope with the lockdown .This too we shared with our students and the community

http://navigatetheautismmaze.blogspot.com/2020/04/corona-countdown-calendars-for-lockdown.html

Step3 :Create a new schedule at home  and include a comfortable flow of preferred activities , house hold chores , creative activities , indoor fitness activities , relaxation activities

@Amaze we called up each of our student’s families and helped them make a new schedule for the student based on their interests and abilities . We also constantly follow-up and are available to them to tweak it if required

http://navigatetheautismmaze.blogspot.com/2020/04/sample-schedule-for-lockdown.html

In order for the schedule to work the following steps help

-          Make a list of things the child can do at home including things that the child likes to do like watching TV, internet activity , video game  , art ,music , dance  , cooking , gardening  etc

-          List down some indoor physical activities like yoga , brain gym activities , OT Activities that the child can do at home

-          List down some important skill goals the child has at therapy - like the target words or sentences in speech therapy , academic goals , literacy goals

-          Make  a list of household chores the child will complete or participate willingly

-          Make a list of things that helps the child relax like a foot massage or pedicure or some relaxing music , exercise , smells etc

Once all this is in place it is just a question of putting in the times and it also helps to put down who will supervise or be with the child to complete the activities if they are not very independent

Step 4.Offer positive reinforcement to the child if the complete their tasks and even if they are coping well ..taking photographs or videos of their creations , achievements may help to boost their self-esteem and cooperatiosn 

Step 5.Ensure the child/student has enough breaks and a “Chill down space” at home where they can spend some alone time and relax or calm down .

Very young children may be undergoing speech therapy /physio therapy  occupational therapy with the therapists  .Older children may be learning in remedial centers or going to special schools which take care of their learning needs  . While the parents may not have the equipment or skills needed to implement the whole program at home , certainly with some adaptations and online support from the therapist or teachers , they can keep working on the individual goals for the child .The best thing is for the specific teacher or therapist to support rather than looking up generic content online which may or may not be appropriate for their child

@Amaze we run an open door center and mainly cater to two age groups .

Students in the age group 5-15 are a part of our technology based after school program DAKSH which mainly focusses on literacy and communication . Being open door , parents are mostly present for the sessions and so they were able to quickly start working with their children with online or telephonic support from our staff .

Through our DAKSH ONLINE PROGRAM we were already supporting students online from across the country for technology based literacy and communication programs and these programs are seamlessly continuing even i.

 Students 16 years and above are a part of our full day Skills training program AMEYA where they are learning life skills , cooking , housekeeping , gardening and farming , technology and literacy and communication skills  .What better time than now for them to put the skills they have learnt to use at home supporting their family  .

We have been getting only positive reports from our families that their children are really helping with the house hold chores  , cooking and gardening  .Able to engage themselves with Art music and movement  and use technology to communicate . 

In fact we have been sharing our ideas and cooking recipes with forums across the nation and many of the individuals with disability have started cooking some simple recipes inspired by us .

There are also a lot of other institutes like Evoluer from Gurgaon  who are sharing Free online classes or resources for persons with disabilities with ideas for Art / Cooking /Movement /Meditation etc which are really useful for our students in these times .

Also @Amaze we have a yoga program which has been fully recorded and shared with all students to practice at home .Of course we are not able to do our outbound activities like Cycling and Trekking .

Our annual NALS Adventure Camp @Coonoor scheduled for April 17-19 had to be cancelled much to our disappointment .The fact that we have had calls from many families even young persons with disability to check when it will  happen next stands testimony to the fact how much the camp is being missed .

We are really happy that our practical curriculum which is based on experiential , process based learning as well as making technology pivotal to all our processes , has helped our students cope so well with the current situation

More info in this Article published in The HINDU METRO PLUS
https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/how-to-make-the-lockdown-productive-and-less-stressful-for-persons-in-the-autism-spectrum-and-their-caregivers/article31287747.ece