Supporting Autistic Students with Transitions and Change

Transitions don’t have to be chaotic or meltdown-inducing. For autistic students, change can feel overwhelming, but with the right tools, structure, and empathy, transitions can actually become opportunities to build trust, confidence, and independence.

In this episode, I’m diving into why transitions are so tough for autistic students, the brain science behind it, and practical strategies you can use to support smoother, safer changes, whether it’s moving from snack to circle or adjusting to a surprise assembly.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

✨ Why transitions are challenging (and how the autistic brain processes change)
✨ How preparation tools like visuals, countdowns, and rehearsal can reduce stress
✨ The power of transition anchors - objects, fidgets, or “jobs” that create predictability
✨ Step-by-step strategies to make transitions more consistent and predictable
✨ How to give gentle warnings and use pauses to ease students into change
✨ What to do when unexpected changes happen (without triggering dysregulation)
✨ Why recovery time after a tough transition is essential, and how to build it in

Links and Resources

• Explore ready-to-use Visuals, First-Then Boards, and Transition Supports in my TpT store.

• Connect with me on Instagram @teachingautism and share your favorite transition strategies, I’d love to celebrate those wins with you!

• You may also like this blog post if you want to find out more abut how to support your neurodivergent students during transitions.

👉 Tune in and learn how to transform transitions from stressful moments into empowering opportunities for growth.