My Summer Safety Guide For Non-Verbal & Semi-Verbal Children with Autism

 ☀️ My Summer Safety Guide

For Non-Verbal & Semi-Verbal Children with Autism

By Urszula Glogowska, MEd., CCC-SLP, TSHH

 

🌈 Why This Guide?

Summer is full of new places, routines, sounds, and feelings, which can be exciting and overwhelming for kids with autism, especially if they are non-verbal or semi-verbal. Let’s get started!

This guide helps caregivers support safety and comfort using:
✅ Visual supports
✅ Predictable routines
✅ Sensory-friendly strategies
✅ Simple, child-friendly activities

✅ 1. Use Visual Rules & Schedules

Why it helps: Predictability reduces anxiety and builds confidence.

What You Can Do:

• Use pictures or icons to show the plan for the day.
• Include clear “yes” and “no” safety visuals.
• Use First/Then boards (e.g., First sunscreen, then swings!)

📋 Try this: Make a simple 3-step schedule using pictures:
🧴 Sunscreen → 🏊 Pool → 🍎 Snack
✔️ YES: Wait for grown-up, stay on path
❌ NO: Run away, touch hot grill

🖍️ Let your child help choose or color icons!

🧍‍♂️ 2. Practice “Stop” and “Help” Signals

Why it helps: Safety depends on communication, even without words.

What You Can Do:

• Teach simple signs (e.g., ✋ for “Stop”, 👆 for “Help”)
• Use visuals, AAC buttons, or gesture-based cues.
• Practice safety words in play - repetition = readiness!

👋 Try this: Create a safety card with just 2 pictures:
                                     🔴 STOP          🟢 GO
✅ Practice crossing the street or walking in parking lots using the card.

✋ Make a family signal for “Come back” or “Danger!” and practice daily.

🌊 3. Water Safety is #1

Why it helps: Pools and beaches are exciting and unpredictable.

What You Can Do:

• Always supervise - assign a designated adult (with a visual tag if needed).
• Use bright swimwear for easy spotting.
• Have a non-verbal “check-in cue” like waving or pointing.

🛟 Try this: Create a “Swimming Social Story” with steps:

1. Wait for OK
2. Walk, don’t run
3. Wear floaties
4. Ask for a break

✍️ Add photos of your child in each step for extra meaning!

🎧 4. Prep for Sensory Overload

Why it helps: Summer sounds, smells, and textures can be intense.

What You Can Do: Pack a Sensory Toolkit for outings:

🎧 Headphones
🧸 Fidget toy
🧴 Unscented sunscreen
👒 Hat and Sunglasses

🧠 Try this: Let your child pick items for their sensory bag. Create a “My Comfort Tools” page with photos or drawings of calming tools they can choose from.

🗣️ For semi-verbal kids: pair tools with words or visuals like “quiet,” “too loud,” or “need break.”

🛑 5. Make a Safety ID for Outings

Why it helps: If a child gets lost or overwhelmed, quick info is key.

What You Can Do: Create a wearable ID (wristband, tag, badge) with:

👤 Name
📞 Parent’s phone
🔊 “Non-verbal/autistic”
💬 “Uses pictures to talk”

📎 Try this: Make a DIY badge your child can decorate. Use Velcro or a necklace holder for outings.
🧩 “Hi, my name is _____! I need help finding my grown-up.”

🍉 6. Stick to Sensory-Friendly Routines

Why it helps: Predictable rhythms prevent meltdowns and burnout.

What You Can Do:

• Use timers or visual countdowns for transitions.
• Build in rest breaks before and after outings.
• Rotate high-energy and calming activities.

🕒 Try this: Sensory-Friendly Day Plan
✔️ Swing time → 📖 Book time
🧺 Picnic → 😌 Break in tent
💦 Water play → 👂 Quiet cuddle

✍️ Let your child help match icons to parts of their day!

✋ 7. Teach “Break” and “No More” Choices

Why it helps: Gives children control and prevents escalation.

What You Can Do: Use icons or AAC buttons. Respect their use of these buttons/signals to build trust.

🔄 “Break”
✋ “No more”
🙅 “I’m done”

📦 Try this: Make a “Break Box” with quiet fidgets, books, and a soft toy.
Show your child they can go there anytime and praise them for using it!

🎉 I’m a Summer Safety Star!

🏅 Draw your “Safety Star Badge”!
👑 “I’m ready for a fun, safe summer!”

Summer Safety Fun Guide For Parents of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children

 ☀️ Summer Safety Fun Guide

For Parents of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children (Grades K–5)

By Urszula Glogowska, MEd., CCC-SLP, TSHH

🏖️ Welcome to Summer!

School’s out, the sun’s up, and it’s time for fun! However, summer adventures can present new safety challenges, especially for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (D/HH) children.

With a few thoughtful steps, you can keep your child safe, confident, and ready for sunshine success all season long. 🌞

Let’s dive in!

🧴 1. Use Visual Safety Cues

Why it matters: D/HH children may miss verbal warnings (like “Don’t run!” or “Watch out for bikes!”) in busy, noisy places.

What You Can Do:

• Use pictures, signs, or simple gestures to explain safety rules.
• Make “Safety Cards” together for pool, park, and street safety.

🎨 Try this: Create a “YES/NO” chart with images!
✔️ YES: Walking feet, life jacket, sunscreen
❌ NO: Running by the pool, touching grills, staying in the sun too long

🛟 2. Prep Before Adventure

Why it matters: New places can be overwhelming. Help your child feel secure and involved.

What You Can Do:

• Talk through the day’s plan using drawings or written checklists.
• Walk your child through safety rules for each activity.

📝 Try this: Make a “Day Plan” together with stickers or magnets:
🏊 Pool → 🍉 Snack → 🏖️ Beach → 🏠 Home
Include reminders like: “Use hand signal if you need help,” or “Take a break if tired.”

🚦 3. Teach Nonverbal Emergency Signals

Why it matters: In loud places (like parks or fireworks shows), spoken warnings may not work.

What You Can Do:

• Practice emergency signs or gestures as a family.
• Pick a clear “Help Me” sign your child can use anytime.

🖐️ Try this: Create a family “safety sign” like waving both arms and tapping your wrist. Practice using it in pretend scenarios! 

🌊 4. Water Safety = Extra Prep

Why it matters: Pools, lakes, and beaches can be distracting, and lifesaving cues - missed.

What You Can Do:

• Always supervise closely, even if a lifeguard is present.
• Use bright-colored swimwear for visibility.
• Ask your child to make eye contact or wave before entering the water.

💡 Pro tip: Some waterproof hearing devices exist, but if your child removes theirs to swim, set up nonverbal check-ins like:
🔁 Thumbs up every 5 minutes
👀 Visual contact before going deeper 

🎆 5. Plan for Fireworks and Loud Events

Why it matters: Big crowds and sensory overload can be tiring or scary for D/HH children.

What You Can Do:

• Offer noise protection (earmuffs) if needed - even for children who don’t use amplification.
• Create a “quiet zone” with a blanket and favorite sensory tool.

🌟 Try this: Make a “Fireworks Fun Kit”:
🎧 Headphones
🎈 Fidget toy
💬 Visual schedule
📖 Book for breaks

🧊 6. Manage Heat and Fatigue

Why it matters: Summer fun often means heat, crowds, and non-stop activity, all of which can increase listening fatigue.

What You Can Do:

• Schedule rest breaks and cool-down times.
• Recognize signs of sensory or listening overload (zoning out, frustration, silence).
• Encourage hydration - set a timer or use a fun water bottle.

💧 Try this: Use a sticker chart: 1 star for every glass of water, 5 stars = popsicle prize!

🧍‍♂️ 7. Empower Self-Advocacy - Even in Summer!

Why it matters: Your child deserves to feel confident and safe wherever they go.

What You Can Do:

• Practice simple scripts or signs:
  👐 “I need a break.”
  🖐️ “I don’t understand.”
  👆 “Please repeat.”

🎲 Try this Game: “What Would You Do?”
Role-play fun “what-if” scenarios like:
❓ You lose sight of your adult at the park - what do you do?
❓ Someone talks to you, but you didn’t catch what they said - what do you do?

👪 8. Stay Connected with Caregivers

Why it matters: Babysitters, grandparents, and camp counselors may not know the best ways to support your child.

What You Can Do:

• Share a quick “About Me” card with your child’s hearing tools, communication style, and safety tips.
• Include visuals and a short note like:
  📋 “Joey uses ASL. Please face him when talking and remind him to take breaks.”

📎 Free idea: Make a mini “Summer Safety Passport” for your child to take on trips! 

🌟 Final Splash: You’ve Got This!

Keeping your D/HH child safe this summer doesn’t mean saying no to fun - it means creating an environment where they feel empowered, included, and ready to dive in with confidence.

☀️ With preparation, visual tools, and lots of love, you’re building a season full of smiles, safety, and sunshine memories. 💛

Coping with Listening and Concentration Fatigue

 🌟 Supporting Your Child:

Coping with Listening and Concentration Fatigue

For Parents of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children in K–5

By Urszula Glogowska, MEd., CCC-SLP, TSHH

🧠 What Is Listening/Concentration Fatigue?

For many Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (D/HH) children, paying attention in a world designed for hearing people can be exhausting. Imagine trying to read lips, watch a sign language interpreter, follow classroom instructions, and keep up with your peers all at the same time. It’s no surprise that D/HH students often experience what’s known as listening or concentration fatigue.

Let’s look at simple, effective ways to help your child feel more comfortable and ready to learn.

✅ Tips for Reducing Fatigue and Boosting Focus

🖼️ 1. Use Visual Aids

      What You Can Do:
At home and school, provide visual supports alongside spoken or signed language, like pictures, charts, and written instructions.

      Example:
If your child is learning about animals, create a poster with labeled pictures or a fun sorting game using animal cards. It gives their eyes a rest from following signs or speech.

⏸️ 2. Incorporate Regular Breaks

      What You Can Do:
Encourage your child’s teachers to offer short breaks during lessons, especially after group activities or long listening tasks.

      Example:
After a 20-minute reading session, your child could have a 5-minute movement break: stretch, color, or take a quiet walk.

📝 Pro tip for school: Ask if your child can have a “break pass” or a nonverbal signal to step away when needed.

🎧 3. Try Assistive Listening Devices

      What You Can Do:
If your child benefits from sound, consider exploring tools such as FM systems or sound-field amplification systems. These tools can reduce background noise and make the speaker's voice clearer.

      Example:
An FM system can transmit the teacher’s voice directly to your child’s hearing aid or cochlear implant, making it easier to focus in a noisy classroom.

👉 Learn more about assistive technology options in your child’s IEP meeting or with your audiologist.

🤫 4. Create Quiet Spaces

      What You Can Do:
Make sure there are calm, quiet areas at home and encourage your child’s school to do the same.

     Example:
A “quiet corner” with soft lighting, cushions, and calming activities, such as books or sensory toys, provides your child with a peaceful spot to relax when needed.

👋 5. Foster Multisensory Learning

      What You Can Do:
Choose activities that engage more than just listening, such as hands-on experiments, art projects, or building with blocks.

      Example:
Instead of explaining the water cycle, help your child build a model using cotton balls (clouds), a spray bottle (rain), and blue food coloring (water)!

🧍‍♀️ 6. Encourage Self-Advocacy

      What You Can Do:
Talk to your child about how they feel when tired or overwhelmed, and help them practice ways to ask for help.

      Example:
Teach them to use signs or cards to say things like “I need a break” or “Please repeat that.” Praise them when they advocate for themselves!

💞 7. Practice Patience and Empathy

      What You Can Do:
Recognize that listening fatigue is real, and even if your child seems fine, they may be using a lot of energy just to keep up.

       Example:
After school, your child might seem grumpy or need alone time. That’s okay. Let them recharge and offer comfort and support.

💬 You might say: “It looks like today was tiring, want to chill out with your favorite book or puzzle?”

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 8. Team Up with Your Child’s School

      What You Can Do:
Keep an open line of communication with your child’s teachers, interpreters, and support staff. Share what works best at home and ask what’s working at school.

      Example:
Set up a monthly check-in to discuss your child’s fatigue levels, break routines, or academic progress.

🎓 9. Stay Informed as a Parent

      What You Can Do:
Take time to learn about listening fatigue and explore new tools and teaching strategies.

🧩 Helpful Resource:
👉 “Listening Fatigue: What It Is and How to Combat It” – Deaf Umbrella

✨ Final Thought

You are your child’s biggest advocate, and with just a few simple strategies, you can help make each day less tiring and more joyful.

Supporting your D/HH child doesn’t mean doing everything perfectly - it means understanding their needs, empowering their voice, and walking with them every step of the way. 💛