Schooling At Home: 3 Ways to Help Families Living With Autism

The Notebook
Written By Margaret Fairbanks, Co-Founder & Chief Education Officer

“Help me!” It’s something we’re hearing from so many in our community.

From our students who have shared that they feel lost and confused.

From their parents who feel overwhelmed and unprepared.

From educators and support providers who are grappling with the challenges of supporting their students with autism in a meaningful and impactful way while they’re schooling at home.

And to get through all of this we REALLY DO NEED TO STAY HOME.

As a person who can’t sit still, this has been heartwrenching. The joy that is evident with our in-person programming at Islands is what has kept us going. We know how important what we do is to each and every one of you—and often for very different reasons.

And so—we move forward. It just has to look different.

And we are here to help. The hugs might be virtual, but we can still connect. Real hugs and high fives are amazing, but the smiles we are seeing on the faces of students in our online programs still bring joy.

For families who now find themselves trying to balance the roles of parent, teacher, cheerleader, companion, and yes, chef, here are three things that can bring structure and fun into your daily routine, as well as support you in your balancing act:

1. Fun work vs. homework: A creative outlet

Many families have a daily schedule that includes both creative and quiet time in addition to academic time. Incorporate our Virtual Brilliance “Question of the Day” into your routine to provide “fun work” to balance out homework. Each weekday we offer a creative challenge through our Question of the Day episodes posted to YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. Encourage your child to respond using whatever materials, tools or technology you have available at home. Think outside the box. Play. Explore. Build. Share. The best part is this can be done at whatever time of day works best for your family.

2. Need 50 minutes of respite?

Islands of Brilliance is providing an opportunity for the doodlers and illustrators out there to register for 50 minutes of time in our “Virtual Doodle Lounge”. For students, it provides structured time to connect with peers, have some quiet conversation, and enjoy the calming mindfulness of drawing alongside our Doodle Guides. For parents, it’s a chance to do a quick work out, take a shower or throw in a load of laundry, knowing that your son or daughter is hanging out with people who understand and respect them.

3. Need some adult conversation?

We are all in a new place these days and sometimes just need to listen and engage with others who are sharing the same experience. Join us on Wednesday evenings from 9:00 to 10:00pm CST for Lighthouse—a casual conversation via Zoom where you can share your experience with other parents. Feel free to come as you are—hopeful, sad, confused, in pajama pants—this is a safe space. And we’ve made this later in the evening so you can put the kiddos to bed, grab your favorite stress-relieving beverage and give yourself the time you need.

We plan to continue rolling out new virtual programming that focuses on keeping the same love and fidelity evident in our in-person offerings. We continue to test these online experiences—keeping ease of access and internet safety at the forefront of our minds. In addition to our virtual programs, we are happy to connect with families on an individual basis to provide guidance, resources and tools to help navigate this current strange new normal we are all living in. To inquire about individual consultations or to be added to our mailing list for program updates, click here.

Together, we will get through this. It’s why we’re offering new ways to connect because we know how powerful sharing laughter, creativity and joy can be to growing self-confidence, deepening relationships and highlighting the capabilities of the students we serve, whether it’s in-person or in a virtual setting.

Margaret Fairbanks, Co-Founder & Chief Education Officer

Margaret has been a special education teacher for the past 10+ years after earning her Masters in Special Education from The University of Minnesota. Her life as a special educator truly began when her son Harry was diagnosed with PDD-NOS at the age of 3. Though “new” to the world of autism, she quickly learned that she needed to really listen to her son, even when he didn’t have words, and think outside the box. Using his area of interest (trains) and meeting him where he was at, Harry eventually learned the basics of reading and writing. But more than that, she learned that his path did not always align with what the schools or the experts told her he should be doing and she tired of hearing all the things he was probably never going to be able to do. She also knew that those “experts” didn’t always see his gifts, they saw the disability but not always the capability.

In her current role, Margaret juggles many different tasks, from the IOB finances to working with the IOB Education team, to helping local schools as an autism consultant, writing blog posts, and working with families to navigate life as a member of the autistic community. But the most important thing she does is to help families find hope and a sense of what a happy tomorrow can look like.

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