[upbeat music]
- Hi, my name is Angelica.
I have two children.
Gabriel, he is 10,
and he is in the autism spectrum.
And Simon is five and he has developmental delays.
Moving from one activity to another
can be very difficult for all kids,
but especially for kids on the autism spectrum.
I use a variety of techniques
to help them minimize anxiety that may come from transitions.
My kids love video games,
and sometimes it's hard to get them
to stop and move on to the next thing.
It's very helpful to let them know what to expect
and set up a time limit.
Ten more minutes and we're gonna turn off video game.
- That's it? - And get ready to shower, okay.
I give them a reminder
so they know they'll be ending the game soon.
Two minutes and 30 seconds left.
And they'll be moving on to the next activity.
[timer chimes] At the end of the game, I remind them what to do next.
Time's up. - Okay.
- Let's get ready to shower.
In addition to verbal commands,
I also use visual supports
to guide them through transitions.
I put these charts together for their specific needs;
one for Gabriel and one for Simon.
At home, we speak Portuguese and English.
So I made the charts bilingual.
The charts show a sequence of steps
for them to complete their morning routines.
I update the charts as they grow and as their needs change.
I want my kids to be happy
and go through their day smoothly.
Mastering transitions at home
helps them to become flexible and independent
at school and throughout the day.