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Supporting Autistic Children when Someone Dies

Explain a death to an autistic child in words they can't misread, and support their grief in ways that fit how they think.

  • 55 minutes
  • 1 CPD hour
  • Certificate
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Free for 14 days, then £7 a month or £70 a year. Cancel before day 14 and you won't pay anything.

About this course

Tell an autistic child that Grandad has "gone to sleep" or that "we've lost him", and they may take you at your word. Gentle euphemisms can leave them confused, or waiting for someone to come back.

You'll learn to say plainly what happened: the body stopped working and it can't start again. Then you'll check the child has understood, using simple yes and no cards, and help them build a social story or picture sequence of what happened. There are visual ways for them to show how big a feeling is, and ideas for memory boxes that keep the person close. You'll also plan for a funeral, with a plan B if it's too much.

It's led by a former primary teacher and SENCO who has since supported hundreds of bereaved children, many of them autistic, in mainstream and specialist settings. It will help parents as much as staff.

Modules

1 module
  1. 1Webinar Playback55 min

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Good to know

  • A certificate with your CPD hours that anyone can check online.
  • Buy the course and you have 12 months to finish it.
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