My husband and I are going through a divorce. Do you have any advice on how we can help our son with autism understand what’s going on and adjust to all the changes? — Christina
Hi Christina,
Man! As if divorce wasn’t challenging enough, throw in there that you have a special needs child! As we know with children on the spectrum, change is often very difficult. And with divorce comes so many changes! New home, new schedule seeing each parent, new holiday traditions, new household routines…so much “new.” Here are some recommendations to help facilitate the change:
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1. Priming. This refers to preparing your son for what lies ahead. This can be grand-scheme and day-to-day. For example: tell him if/when you or your husband will be moving out. Tell your son whose house he will be at which days. Letting him know ahead of time about what to expect will help soften these major transitions that are about to occur.
2. Social Stories. Once some of the finer details have been ironed out between you and your husband, you can write a story letting your son know what things will be like. For example: On Mondays I will go to Daddy’s new house. His house is fun. We play Jenga at his house. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, I will go to Mommy’s house. Mommy’s house is fun too! We watch Mickey Mouse at her house. Use pictures of the homes and of family members. You can even create social stories down the line when special occasions come up, such as the first separated Christmas. Here are a couple of examples that you can purchase online:
https://www.amazon.com/Divorce-Social-Story-Happens-Parents/dp/B01FL00XLO
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.TouchAutism.DivorceStory
3. Visual Schedules/Calendar. Use a calendar or some other type of schedule to show him which days he will see which parent. Make it fun with real pictures. Here are some examples:
4. Doubles. I hope these ideas help bring some peace to what I’m sure is a very painful and stressful situation. Wishing you the best along this difficult journey.For many kids on the spectrum, they are very attached to routine and familiarity. While it is not the most cost-effective strategy, I recommend getting him duplicates of any items you can so that he can have the same things at both homes. This will help him feel safe and comfortable in the new environment. Having the same items at both homes also helps reduce the risk of forgetting an item at one house. Take inventory of what items your son is particular about and see if you can buy a double. For example: if he has favorite pajamas, buy a second set to keep at the other house. Or if he only drinks from his favorite cup, get one for the other house. This strategy is not something I would recommend for all parents going through a divorce, but for couples with a special need’s child, it’s important to accommodate where you can to help make the transition easier.
5. Highlight the positives! This should go without saying, but do not badmouth your ex-spouse in front of your child. Don’t let your adult issues interfere with your son’s relationships with each of his parents. Remind him how much each of you loves him, and even take the opportunity to praise the other parent. This can be something as small as “Daddy took you to play baseball? Wow, that was a great idea daddy had!” While your son may not appear to be listening to everything you say, I assure you he is still picking up on your tone, attitude, and emotional affect. So it’s important to reflect that you approve of his love for his dad.
This article was featured in Issue 53 – Working Toward The Future
