Kids Master Skills BLOG

For many Autistic students, the end of the school year is not lighter. It may actually be less predictable, more socially demanding, louder, and full of transitions.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I am thinking about simple meaningful moments in my clinic. They remind me why our work matters and how powerful small, attuned and affirming interactions can be.

The first few weeks of school often go smoothly. Everyone is fresh, polite, and hopeful. But for many Autistic students, that “honeymoon” depends on masking—suppressing natural regulation needs and social communication differences to blend in.