Home Base- Relieving Stress

Each year I made sure that MONK had in his IEP:

Student will be able to use his Travel Pass and leave his classroom when he gets upset to go to his Home Base for a calming activity (stress bag or journal).

MONK had a Travel Pass given to him so he could leave his classroom when things got overwhelming for him. Usually his Home Base was the counselor’s office and he had his stress bag (items inside to help relieve stress) and a journal stored on a shelf that he could write in to help relieve some stress that he was feeling.

A Home Base is different for each individual depending on what their needs are. It is a place in the school where the student can go to plan or review the day's events, escape the stress of the classroom, prevent a meltdown, or regain control if a tantrum, rage, or meltdown has occurred. Home Base is not timeout and it is not an escape from classroom tasks. The student can take their class work with them to Home Base or whatever they need to help relieve their stress. Home Base is a great alternative to the noisy lunchroom as well. Some students need Home Base to be scheduled as a regular part of their day. A Home Base at the beginning of the day can be part of their daily routine to make sure the student's materials are organized, prime for specific subjects, or to go over their visual schedule for the day. Home Base can also be scheduled after a stressful activity or class to help the student calm down and be ready for the rest of the day.

If you want more information on this subject and to implement this with your child at school be sure to check out:

Asperger Syndrome and Adolescence: Practical Solutions for School Success by Brenda Smith Myles, page 85.