[catsrhelm]

My autistic son is going to be going to a new school not just for summer school, but come the next school year. What should I do to help him cope? So far the only thing I can think of is talk about it a lot. An insider's perspective is welcome.

Talk to teachers/administrators about what he'll be doing there that is different and really talk it up on how "cool" it will be, all the new friends etc. If it's okay with the school, I'd go and stay with him part of the first day and several sebsequent days as well as drop in periodically for at least the first few weeks. Just seeing your face will assure him that things will be alright.

[Dreamy01]

He may adjust better than you imagine. I was terrified when my severely autistic son started big school but he did really well.

I talked to him on a level he could understand, showed him pictures etc. He visited the school beforehand. I don't know how severe your son is, but sometimes they just won't understand properly until the change happens. In the meantime, keep talking and reassuring him he'll have a great time.

[catsrhelm]

I want to thank everyone who took the time to reply. I found an article on line about "Helping an Autistic Child Deal with a Move". Turns out I can modify some of that to apply to a new school as well.

[Piraeus]

Hello catsrhelm. Don't worry. Your son will be just fine at his new school.
Change is good. It may open up new doors of opportunity. You will also
have more time to take care of yourself.
How are you doing with your OCD? Are you seeing a therapist, or pdoc?
I wish the best for you and your son. Peace....

[Callista]

Being told something will be cool wouldn't really have reassured me. Especially if somebody told me it would be cool because of "all the new friends". Yipe! That would make me want to hide somewhere.

The problem with a new school is that it is new. The best way to deal with new things is to make them familiar. Can you visit the school? Tour it? Maybe more than once--even sit in on lessons? Let him know where he'll eat lunch, where he'll have his classes. If he's going by bus, he could see the bus. If you can't do that, photos are a poor substitute, but they're still better than nothing. It will be easier to deal with all the new people if he at least knows roughly what to expect.

Some auties are actually very sensitive to the feelings of those around them, instead of being oblivious. If your son is one of those, he'll do best if you yourself are calm about it and see changing schools as something rather unremarkable, perhaps a little annoying or interesting, but not particularly overwhelming.