
At School Social Stories
Local Autism Support Groups
Parents Engaging Autism Quinte (PEAQ), an autism parent support group, meets once a month on the first Tuesday of the month (no meetings in January, July and August) at Kerry's Place, 189 Victoria Avenue, Belleville at 6:30 to 8 p.m. If you have questions or suggestions for autism topics that are important to you please go to our FaceBook account and post your suggestions so that we can invite appropriate autism professionals to speak at these meetings. There won't be any meeting in December but we are taking local families supporting individuals with moderate to severe sensory challenges to the Christmas Event at the Children's Safety Village half an hour prior to the event being opened to the public.
Autism parent support group meeting hosted by Mental Health Agency, Trenton and Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) meeting is on the Second Thursday of the month from 6 to 7:30 p.m. If you have require any further information please contact Marya Peters for more information at 613 392-2811 ext 3953 or email marya.p@trentonmfrc.ca
For info on Community Living Prince Edward County Parent Support group, contact Resource Consultants @ 613 476 6038
Central Hastings Autism Support Group meets in Madoc at the Recreation Centre. Contact Renee O’Hara, Family Resource & Support, 613-966-7413 or Tammy Kavanagh, Family Resource & Support, 613-332-3227

Friday, October 28, 2016
Strategies to plan for a more fun Halloween for children with autism
So, how to prepare for Halloween?
Make a list of points to consider. For example:
1. Costume: Some costumes are more abrasive or smell more than others and might bother a child with autism who has physical sensory problems. Some might find the wigs itchy even for a brief period of time. Just have him go without or if possible, apply some colour on the child's hair if absolutely necessary.
2. Social script: Write a short script (keep it to five or six lines) or draw a picture of what it would mean to go trick-or-treating, where you will go, what will happen at the doors of people, what can the child expect to hear and get from homeowners at their doors, what their decorations might look like, a few days before Halloween and read it or go over it together with your child. It would be great to post it on the fridge so the child can look at it every day until Halloween.
3. Route: practice going on the route that you plan to take with your child on Halloween evening and depending on your understanding of your child's patience and temperament, plan for the number of houses that you will be going to and tell you child that number so that the expectations are clear and stick to it.
4. Food: If your child has food allergy, make a clear rule for your child that candies and food items that he or she is given during treat or treating can only be eaten at home after your inspection.
5. Plan B: If your child simply cannot tolerate going trick or treating in the busier neighbourhood where there are lots of children or where the decorations are likely to trigger a meltdown, take your child to quiet streets or just role play at home with family members.
Hope you and your child will have a great time at Halloween this year!
In it for the long haul...

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