how does moving affect someone with autism?

[Guest guest]

Hi Debi,

When my ex-husband and I split up my daughter had just turned six. We

sold the family home, and she moved with me to another place and her Dad moved

to

a townhouse. I wrote a social story entitled " The Changes " and detailed what

would be happening when, focusing on her perspective and the concrete details

she needed. ( " On Tuesday, December 17, we will say good-bye to _____ (old

address). You will visit and stay with Grandma for two days and two nights. On

Thursday, December 19 Grandma will bring you to your new house at __ ( new

address).Etc Etc. I wrote about Dad having a new house where she would be able

to

visit him, that she would have a bedroom on both places, etc. I never mentioned

divorce or anything like it. She didn't need it and wouldn't have gotten

it.(Still doesn't, actually.) I made sure school had a copy of the story and we

all read it to her over and over. And she did fine with it all. I made sure to

have her room set up as much as I possible could, and had her toys out. I

think that was important. And....we'd been working on toilet training for years,

started when she was three. She was very fixed on her potty and would not use

the toilet. The bathroom in the new place was very tiny and her potty actually

wouldn't fit! So I took a leap of faith and told her the new house had no

potty and that she would use the toilet. Got a tiny pink stepstool for her

and......it worked! I know it sounds like a lot for her to handle, but she

accepted

that the new house simply had no potty, and so after the move we were all done

with potty! All in all she adjusted very well. I know the kids are all

different, but I would just recommend preparing her as best you can and then

have

faith that she'll handle it.

HTH, Melinda

[Guest guest]

We're planning on moving from our house in a couple of years. This is

the home we lived in with each of the girls' birth, so they don't know

any different. How to we address the moving issue? We've considered

moving into a trailer on some land while we build our house. I'm

wondering if we should make sure we have Allie's room fully finished

before moving, to make the transition more easy, but then I've read

other families that have kids with autism moving multiple times.

Thanks for any advice/suggestions.

Debi

[Guest guest]

Debi:

We moved when our daughter was six. Immediately before and after the move we

and her teacher (she attended the same school despite the move) both noticed an

increased awareness for a time. The teacher had seen that when there is some

major change in a child's life, some of them react by " paying attention " ...It's

as though they have been coasting in their own world and suddenly things are not

the same as they were so they figure they'd better be looking around a bit more

and taking stock of the situation. The teacher said that other events such as a

divorce, death in the family, taking in another family member such as a

grandparent, a parent's change in schedule, could all trigger this reaction.

That was our experience...nothing really negative...hope this helps.

Joan

how does moving affect someone with autism?

We're planning on moving from our house in a couple of years. This is

the home we lived in with each of the girls' birth, so they don't know

any different. How to we address the moving issue? We've considered

moving into a trailer on some land while we build our house. I'm

wondering if we should make sure we have Allie's room fully finished

before moving, to make the transition more easy, but then I've read

other families that have kids with autism moving multiple times.

Thanks for any advice/suggestions.

Debi

[Guest guest]

That's really interesting. I've noticed the same thing in me,

particularly driving in a different town. It's like I'm so used to

where the traffic lights are, turns, etc, that I don't even think

about driving that much. But put me in a new area where I'm unfamiliar

and suddenly I'm aware of everything.

Debi

>

> Debi:

> We moved when our daughter was six. Immediately before and after

the move we and her teacher (she attended the same school despite the

move) both noticed an increased awareness for a time. The teacher had

seen that when there is some major change in a child's life, some of

them react by " paying attention " ...It's as though they have been

coasting in their own world and suddenly things are not the same as

they were so they figure they'd better be looking around a bit more

and taking stock of the situation. The teacher said that other events

such as a divorce, death in the family, taking in another family

member such as a grandparent, a parent's change in schedule, could all

trigger this reaction. That was our experience...nothing really

negative...hope this helps.

> Joan

>

[Guest guest]

I loved this post - paying attention! So cool and gave me more insight to

my Amazing (our 16 year old daughter). We moved when was 4.

Only across town, still a move. The children were involved of course in the

" looking and inspecting " of the new house. We needed/wanted their approval.

also watched Barney (still does), and of course there is a show/video

about moving and being a " new kid " , very helpful. The Berenstain Bears have

a book I think called Moving Day.

We bought a copy but the moving company also provided the book. That was so

thoughtful! Living in a trailer for a period of time sounds like a grand

adventure! Imagine the sound of the rain on the trailer, so different than the

sound we hear when it rains on the house.

When in the 'new house' all of 's 'things' of course were there. She

was comfortable. After awhile in the house we changed curtains. Now that

presented some discomfort! Didn't like curtains being changed. Now

helps shop for 'new curtains'. Best to all and may all of some moments of joy

today.

In a message dated 7/19/2006 1:06:47 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,

fightingautism@... writes:

That's really interesting. I've noticed the same thing in me,

particularly driving in a different town. It's like I'm so used to

where the traffic lights are, turns, etc, that I don't even think

about driving that much. But put me in a new area where I'm unfamiliar

and suddenly I'm aware of everything.

Debi

>

> Debi:

> We moved when our daughter was six. Immediately before and after

the move we and her teacher (she attended the same school despite the

move) both noticed an increased awareness for a time. The teacher had

seen that when there is some major change in a child's life, some of

them react by " paying attention " ..them react by " paying attention " ..

coasting in their own world and suddenly things are not the same as

they were so they figure they'd better be looking around a bit more

and taking stock of the situation. The teacher said that other events

such as a divorce, death in the family, taking in another family

member such as a grandparent, a parent's change in schedule, could all

trigger this reaction. That was our experience..trigger this reacti

negative...hope this helps.

> Joan

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Debi and everyone! I hardly post...but I had to on this one...I recently

moved (about a year and a half ago) and I did some of the same things for my

daughter Destiney...we set up her room ahead of time, but there were some big

changes for her...she was now on the lower level in the house (she was used to

the second level) and I had bought her new curtains and the carpeting of

course was different...she inspected everything carefully and after a few hours

she

decided it was ok! lol I tried to keep the setup of her room basically the

same as well and I think that helps too. We also had brought her to the new

house a couple of times a week before we moved and that seemed to help also.

She was well adjusted after week or so. It is a little different with Destiney

because she has other issues as well ( a degree of mental retardation and is

non-verbal). I hope this helps some.

[Guest guest]

the new house was of a whole new experience that needed time

to develop routine and same too, but once that was established it

was the sudden change of curtains that maked it be to cause fear of

the changes. I to be of same. not like changes of unexpected. Sondra

In Autism_in_Girls , DFabio7450@... wrote:

>

>

> I loved this post - paying attention! So cool and gave me more

insight to

> my Amazing (our 16 year old daughter). We moved when

was 4.

> Only across town, still a move. The children were involved of

course in the

> " looking and inspecting " of the new house. We needed/wanted

their approval.

> also watched Barney (still does), and of course there is a

show/video

> about moving and being a " new kid " , very helpful. The Berenstain

Bears have

> a book I think called Moving Day.

> We bought a copy but the moving company also provided the book.

That was so

> thoughtful! Living in a trailer for a period of time sounds like

a grand

> adventure! Imagine the sound of the rain on the trailer, so

different than the

> sound we hear when it rains on the house.

> When in the 'new house' all of 's 'things' of course were

there. She

> was comfortable. After awhile in the house we changed curtains.

Now that

> presented some discomfort! Didn't like curtains being changed.

Now

> helps shop for 'new curtains'. Best to all and may all of some

moments of joy

> today.

>

> In a message dated 7/19/2006 1:06:47 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,

> fightingautism@... writes:

>

>

>

>

> That's really interesting. I've noticed the same thing in me,

> particularly driving in a different town. It's like I'm so used to

> where the traffic lights are, turns, etc, that I don't even think

> about driving that much. But put me in a new area where I'm

unfamiliar

> and suddenly I'm aware of everything.

>

> Debi

>

>

> >

> > Debi:

> > We moved when our daughter was six. Immediately before and after

> the move we and her teacher (she attended the same school despite

the

> move) both noticed an increased awareness for a time. The teacher

had

> seen that when there is some major change in a child's life, some

of

> them react by " paying attention " ..them react by " paying

attention " ..

> coasting in their own world and suddenly things are not the same

as

> they were so they figure they'd better be looking around a bit

more

> and taking stock of the situation. The teacher said that other

events

> such as a divorce, death in the family, taking in another family

> member such as a grandparent, a parent's change in schedule,

could all

> trigger this reaction. That was our experience..trigger this reacti

> negative...hope this helps.

> > Joan

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Debi,

We moved from the only home knew when she was 5. I got a

picture of the new home and put it at the top of a small poster board and

made a calendar under it. She got to cross of the days each morning (or

night…can’t remember as she’s 17 now LOL). I kept telling her we were moving

to the “new house”. After we put our bid on the home, we explained my

daughter’s autism to the owners and they allowed us to bring down to

visit her “new home” . This really seemed to help her prepare for the move

and she surprised us by adapting well. However, for many years after that,

come the end of August, which was the month we moved, would get the

regular calendar off the wall, bring it in to me and ask if we were moving

to “another new house.” LOL

_____

From: Autism_in_Girls

[mailto:Autism_in_Girls ] On Behalf Of Debi

Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2006 4:31 PM

To: Autism_in_Girls

Subject: how does moving affect someone with autism?

We're planning on moving from our house in a couple of years. This is

the home we lived in with each of the girls' birth, so they don't know

any different. How to we address the moving issue? We've considered

moving into a trailer on some land while we build our house. I'm

wondering if we should make sure we have Allie's room fully finished

before moving, to make the transition more easy, but then I've read

other families that have kids with autism moving multiple times.

Thanks for any advice/suggestions.

Debi

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[Guest guest]

, at least she will allow curtains! We have very little, Allie

likes to rip ours off the walls. <sigh>

Debi

> >

> > Debi:

> > We moved when our daughter was six. Immediately before and after

> the move we and her teacher (she attended the same school despite the

> move) both noticed an increased awareness for a time. The teacher had

> seen that when there is some major change in a child's life, some of

> them react by " paying attention " ..them react by " paying attention " ..

> coasting in their own world and suddenly things are not the same as

> they were so they figure they'd better be looking around a bit more

> and taking stock of the situation. The teacher said that other events

> such as a divorce, death in the family, taking in another family

> member such as a grandparent, a parent's change in schedule, could all

> trigger this reaction. That was our experience..trigger this reacti

> negative...hope this helps.

> > Joan

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I think it is best for kids to visit grandparents for a day and move all

their toys first, setting up their rooms first and making sure the essential

parts of their routine are available. My kids always needed to check and

make sure all their stuff made the move.

Nadine

how does moving affect someone with autism?

We're planning on moving from our house in a couple of years. This is

the home we lived in with each of the girls' birth, so they don't know

any different. How to we address the moving issue? We've considered

moving into a trailer on some land while we build our house. I'm

wondering if we should make sure we have Allie's room fully finished

before moving, to make the transition more easy, but then I've read

other families that have kids with autism moving multiple times.

Thanks for any advice/suggestions.

Debi