A week of clues. A classroom full of guesses. A mystery guest with a Halloween story to share.
At Hoover Academy in Schaumburg, Ms. Smith’s second-grade students had been trying to solve a mystery: Who would be their next mystery reader?
Throughout the week, Ms. Smith shared clues to help students guess the visitor’s identity. When the mystery was finally revealed, our own Violet Rak, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) at BASES Autism Services, stepped into the classroom.
Her book choice brought together two things close to her heart: autism and Halloween.
Violet read Autism: Trick Roar Treat by Evelyne Perez, a story about Aaron and Mateo navigating Halloween with friendship and support for Mateo’s sensory needs. It offers a playful starting point for thinking about how celebrations can include children who experience the world differently.
For us, the visit reflected something we bring into our work with young children every day: meaningful learning can begin with something a child enjoys.
Book a free consultation with BASES Autism Services to discuss your child’s strengths, your priorities, and goals for school readiness.
What Does School Readiness Look Like for a Child With Autism?
When families think about preparing for school, letters, numbers, and worksheets often come to mind. But participating in a school day also involves communicating needs, exploring unfamiliar activities, navigating transitions, and connecting with other people.
At BASES Autism Services, we approach school readiness through each child’s individual strengths, interests, and support needs.
We use play to create opportunities to practice everyday skills. A favorite book, pretend kitchen, or turn-taking game can become a setting for communication, social skill development, and growing independence.
Our goal is to help each child participate with the support they need, while making room for their own way of learning.
From Story Time to Everyday Communication
A shared story offers more than words on a page. It creates opportunities to point, make a choice, ask a question, or share an interest.
A child might choose between two books, point to a favorite character, or communicate that a sound feels uncomfortable. Communication may happen through speech, gestures, pictures, or a communication device.
We look for ways to connect these moments to functional communication: expressing something useful in everyday life, such as “help,” “my turn,” or “I need a break.”
Within an individualized plan, functional communication training can focus on helping a child express a particular need. Play gives that communication a meaningful purpose. Asking for a toy matters because the child wants to play with it.
Book a free consultation with BASES Autism Services to discuss your child’s strengths, your priorities, and goals for school readiness.
Practicing Social Skills Through Play
The mystery reader format builds anticipation around a shared experience. Students receive clues, consider possibilities, and discover something together.
In our work with younger children preparing for school, we adapt shared activities to create manageable opportunities for connection.
During play, practice might include:
- Offering a toy to another person.
- Taking a brief turn in a favorite game.
- Asking to join an activity.
- Sharing excitement about a picture or character.
- Communicating when they want space or a break.
We approach social skill development as a way to make interaction more accessible and rewarding. A child can participate without being expected to make eye contact or interact in exactly the same way as their peers.
Building Independence in Small Steps
School days contain many small routines: opening a lunchbox, putting away materials, washing hands, and moving between activities.
We can introduce parts of these routines through familiar, enjoyable play. A pretend picnic might include opening containers and asking for help. A dress-up activity might offer practice choosing clothing or managing a zipper.
These early independent living skills connect learning to everyday participation. We focus on useful steps that match the child’s current abilities, adjusting support along the way.
Connecting Learning at BASES, at Home, and at School
We want the skills children practice with us to be useful in their everyday lives.
Through parent coaching and support, we help families connect their child’s goals to familiar routines, such as choosing a bedtime book, cleaning up toys, or getting ready to leave the house.
Our interdisciplinary approach values the perspectives of families, educators, and other professionals involved in a child’s care. Sharing what interests a child, how they communicate, and which supports help them participate gives us a clearer picture of their needs.
Together, we keep the focus on practical questions: What is becoming easier? Where does the child still need support? What should we work on next?
Let’s Talk About Your Child’s School Readiness
What would make your child’s school day easier: asking for help, joining an activity, managing a transition, or building independence?
We would love to learn more about your child and what matters to your family.
Book a free consultation with BASES Autism Services to discuss your child’s strengths, your priorities, and goals for school readiness.