BCBA-Led Practice · Evidence-Based ABA Therapy · Serving Houston & Surrounding Areas
School Readiness Guide for Children with Autism
Free Downloadable Guide
School Readiness Guide for Children with Autism
A practical guide to preparing your child for school success — from key skills to develop, to IEP basics every parent should know.
RealPath ABA
realpathaba.com · Houston, TX
School Readiness Guide for Children with Autism
Skills to Develop Before School
Use this checklist to track your child's readiness. ABA therapy can help build any skills that need support:
- Follows group instructions (not just one-on-one)
- Sits and attends to a task for 10–15 minutes
- Raises hand and waits to be called on
- Waits their turn during activities and games
- Transitions between activities without significant distress
- Toileting independence (or is working toward it)
- Communicates basic needs (bathroom, hunger, pain)
- Responds to their name and makes eye contact with adults
- Tolerates sitting near peers without significant distress
- Follows a 2–3 step verbal instruction
How to Prepare Your Child
Visit the school beforehand
Schedule a visit before the first day so your child can explore the classroom, meet the teacher, and reduce anxiety about the unknown.
Create visual schedules
Use pictures or icons to show the daily school routine. Practice it at home so the sequence feels familiar.
Practice routines at home
Rehearse morning routines, backpack packing, lunchtime, and transitions. Repetition builds confidence.
Meet the teacher early
Arrange a meeting before school starts to share your child's strengths, triggers, communication style, and what works best.
Establish a communication system
Agree on how you and the school will communicate daily — a home-school notebook, app, or brief daily check-in.
IEP Basics: What Every Parent Should Know
An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a legally binding document that outlines your child's educational goals and the services the school must provide.
Your Rights as a Parent
- You are a full member of the IEP team — your input matters and is required.
- You must give written consent before any evaluation or change in services.
- You can request an IEP meeting at any time — not just at annual review.
- You have the right to an independent educational evaluation (IEE) if you disagree with the school's assessment.
- You can bring an advocate or support person to any IEP meeting.
How to Request an Evaluation
Submit a written request to your school district's special education director. In Texas, the school has 15 school days to respond and 60 calendar days to complete the evaluation.
What to Expect at an ARD Meeting
In Texas, IEP meetings are called ARD (Admission, Review, and Dismissal) meetings. Here is what happens:
- The team reviews your child's current performance and progress.
- Annual goals are written based on your child's needs.
- Services (speech, OT, ABA support, etc.) are determined and documented.
- Placement is decided — least restrictive environment is required by law.
- You review and sign (or decline to sign) the IEP document.
ABA therapy can help with school readiness.
Our BCBAs work directly on the skills your child needs to thrive in a school setting — following instructions, transitioning, communicating needs, and more. Contact us at realpathaba.com/contact to schedule a free consultation.