| There comes a time in our life when we all need to | | | | cardboard eye bows and the frame of the fake |
| visit an eye doctor to have an eye exam. Autistic | | | | classes to make them fun and creative looking. |
| children will also require an eye exam or an eye | | | | Show the individual with autism, how to fold the bows |
| check-up. This can be made easy for autistic children | | | | of the glasses and care for the glasses using the |
| with some preparation before the eye appointment | | | | props for practice. Obtain some soft cotton cloth or |
| visit. | | | | soft tissue and illustrate to the child how to clean the |
| Before visiting an eye doctor with an autistic child, be | | | | glasses without scratching them. Let the person be |
| sure the appointment is made far enough in advance | | | | aware of how to handle the glasses with care, |
| to prepare the child for what to expect. In other words, | | | | because they are fragile. |
| try not to surprise the individual at the spur of the | | | | Before the eye exam is taken, you can purchase |
| moment. | | | | some illustration/poster board, or construction paper to |
| If this is your first time you are going to take your child, | | | | make an eye chart, then post it on the wall or place it |
| who has autism, to an eye doctor, do research on | | | | on a standing easel for the individual with autism to |
| what would qualify a doctor who would understand | | | | see. You can draw letters on the chart, starting from |
| and be aware of the disorder of autism, with their | | | | small letters to large letters with magic markers, or use |
| various behavior patterns and outbursts that some | | | | some flash cards with different size letters and adhere |
| produce. One way to do this, is, by asking your family | | | | the flash cards to the illustration/poster board or |
| physician or doing research on the internet to search | | | | construction paper. Have your child cover one eye and |
| for one in your area that you live in. | | | | read the lines, then have he or she cover the other |
| After you are comfortable with the doctor or | | | | eye and read the lines. Allow the child with autism to |
| optometrist that you have selected, then take action to | | | | practice and be aware of the fact that this might be |
| make the appointment. It is an excellent plan to | | | | part of the eye exam, but make it a relaxed project, to |
| introduce and take your child for a visit with the new | | | | ensure the child there is nothing to be fearful of. |
| doctor on one-to-one level, so the youngster will be | | | | It is always an excellent plan to have your child take |
| aware of what the person looks like, what is in the | | | | an object, for example, a stuffed toy, a play car, ball, |
| office, and perhaps a practice run of what the eye | | | | blanket, or some favorite item they are fond of, with |
| exam will be like. Show the individual the instruments | | | | them to the eye doctor, for security purposes and a |
| used and the chair he or she will be sitting on. | | | | feeling of warmth. |
| Another positive way you can help your child feel | | | | If your child with autism does require eye wear, ask |
| comfortable about going for the eye exam, is show | | | | the doctor to explain to the child why he or she needs |
| your child a pair of unbreakable glasses, or cut out a | | | | the glasses and it might be a good idea if you were |
| fake pair from some construction paper or cardboard | | | | present with the child and the doctor in the same room |
| to make it look like eye glasses and have the child try | | | | to hear and review the results of the eye exam. This |
| them on and wear them, so they get the feel and look | | | | will give the individual confidence and assurance of the |
| of them. Use your creativity by drawing designs on the | | | | eye exam results. |