The transition to high school can be challenging for any student. But for a student with special needs, the challenges is magnified. It is important that the change is managed, and that new or changing needs are met.
The transition to high school can be challenging for any student. But for a student with special needs, the challenge is magnified. The high school environment can be very stressful for a student coming from middle school or junior high. The step into this new environment generally involves increased emphasis on grades, a heightened need for time management & organization skills, more homework, and many new social situations. Additionally, self-advocacy becomes key, as the students’ age tends to force reduced direct parental involvement in school.
High school is a BIG change! There is a lot going on. Harder classes, more homework, activities… Just staying organized enough to get everything done can be a struggle. Many learning and thinking differences impact a student’s ability to organize and time-manage. It is paramount to a child’s success that their individual and unique needs are identified so that adequate accommodations or modifications can be put in place to support a student through these changes.
Additionally, there may be higher expectations on a student’s ability to rapidly take notes, or execute in-class exercises. Where a learning or emotional disability impacts a child’s ability to react and execute quickly in a classroom environment, new accommodations or services may be necessary to ensure the student is in the learning environment that is best for them.
Some thinking and learning differences can mean that the long study or test-taking hours, sometimes required in high school, need to be managed differently for a student with special needs. Stipulated breaks may become necessary and proper study skills developed.
New high-schoolers must acclimate to a larger school, larger class sizes, mixed-age classrooms, extra-curricular activities, and significantly more social pressure.
Your student may have trouble keeping track of time as they are over stimulated… or may not be able to determine the best path to their next class with so many students in the hallways.
As your child is exposed to many new situations, they may struggle to make good choices when faced with peer pressure in situations.
Students with thinking or learning differences can struggle to read social queues and may struggle to make friends or to “fit in”.
In high school, it is hard for Mom or Dad not to be quite as involved. As your child grows, it is key that, as is practical and feasible, they learn to self-advocate.
As they age, the expectation that your child plays a larger role in their own education increases. If they have an IEP, they should be included in meetings and decision making. Kids should participate in their IEP meetings (unless a situation means participation would be detrimental to, or impossible for, the student). You and your child can even request that self-advocacy goals are written into the IEP.
Just remember, self-advocacy can feel overwhelming for a student. Make sure the IEP team is creating ways that your student can be comfortable and successful with self-advocacy as they grow.
There are no two ways about it… high school can be a rough transition. However, the IEP team can help in this transition by creating plans that help manage the common situations they will face.
It is important that your student has a formal transition plan in-place ahead of high school entry. It is also key that your child’s team (parent’s included) is paying attention to behavior cues and reacting by discussing needs and modifications to IEP accommodations and services.
If you are worried about your child’s transition into high school, or if you child is in high school and struggling, please get in touch so we can discuss your situation.
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