Schools, parents take extra steps to prep kids with autism for class

At Linden Grove School, which is specially geared toward students with autism, making sure students are mentally and emotionally prepared for a COVID-19-adjusted school year is just as important as making sure they’re physically safe.

PLACE TODAY TO PROTECT OHIO'SMOSTVULNERABLE.EIGHT-HUNDREDASSISTED LIVING CENTERS ACROSSTHE STATE WILL NOW STARTTESTING EVERY STAFF MEMBER.THEGOAL IS TO FIND ANY POTENTIALPOSITIVE CASES BEFORE SYMPTOMSEVEN SHOW.THAT'S SUPPOSED TOMAKE IT EASIER TO ISOLATE,CONTACT TRACE, AND STOP APOTENTIAL OUTBREAK FROMSPREADING INSIDE FACILITIES.THESE WON'T BE RAPID TESTS...BUT FACILITIES WILL HAVERESULTS WITHIN 48 HOURS -- ATNO COST TO THEM.NOW TO THE LATEST IN THE RACEFOR A VACCINE.A LARGENATIONWIDE TRIAL IS LOOKINGFOR PARTICIPANTS RIGHT HERE INTHETRI-STATE.THIS IS PHASE THREEOF THE MODERNA COVID-19VACCINE TRIAL AT THEUNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI.U-CWAS SELECTED AS ONE OF 89SITES ACROSS THE COUNTRY FORTHIS STUDY.

30-THOUSAND PEOPLEARE NEEDED NATIONWIDE --INCLUDING 500 TRI-STATERS.RESEARCHERS ARE LOOKING FOR AWIDE RANGE OF PARTICIPANTS...18 AND OLDER.

HERE LOCALLY,THEY NEED TO STUDY POPULATIONSTHAT HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY COVID-19."We've been reaching out tocommunity leaders in both theLatino and Hispanic comunity.We've also been reaching outto those in the AfricanAmerican-Blackcommunity.""The kinds oftargets we're interested inwhich is having about at least30 percent of our study befrom underrepresentedpopulations so that they havea chance toparticipate."IF YOU AREACCEPTED INTO THE TRIAL... YOUHAVE A 50-50 CHANCE OF GETTINGTHE VACCINE... OR A PLACEBO.WE HAVE ALL THE INFORMATIONABOUT HOW TO PARTICIPATE ONOUR WEBSITE, WCPO DOT DOM.WE'RE BACK WITH MORE LOCALNEWS AND WEATHER -- RIGHTAFTER THIS.IT MAKES HEARTS RACE... UPSETSSTOMACHS... AND IN SCHOOLS,TEACHERS TELL US ANXIETYTHREATENS EDUCATION LIKE NEVERBEFORE.BACK-TO-SCHOOL NERVES ARE BYNO MEANS NEW... BUT THECORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC ISINFECTING THE MOST SENSITIVESTUDENTS WITH NEW FEARSPARENTS ARE DESPERATE TOSOOTHE.HERE'S REPORTER LARRYSEWARD.çPKGÑ(nats of kids scream asmom chases)(track)In the besttimes... fears chase ShelettaBrundidge's four children...(show family photo)especiallyher eight-, seven- andfive-year-old.(sot/ tc 1:00/sheletta brundidge/ parent,author)"Cameron, Brandon andDaniel all have been diagnosedwith autism spectrumdisorder..."(larry)"Are theyafraid to go back to school?"(sot/ tc 2:57/ shelettabrundidge/ parent, author)"Itis keeping them up at night..."(sot/ tc 3:38-3:42/ shelettabrundidge/ parent, author)"...two of the three that haveautism have a lot of socialanxiety."(sot/ tc 3:46-59 /sheletta brundidge/ parent,author)"If somebody even getstoo close to them at thispoint, they're so afraid ofcovid that they'll just startscreaming.

And so we've evengone up to the school a fewtimes just to walk around thebuilding and they're afraid."(track)(vo from LINDEN GROVESCHOOL VIDEO)At Deer Park'sLinden Grove School... acampus geared toward Austimfor 24-years...(sot/ tc 1:30/kristin tennyson/ linden groveschool, head of school)"Covidhas changed everything."(track)(vo from LINDEN GROVE SCHOOLVIDEO)They're preparing towelcome students this weeklike never before.(sot/ tc6:47/ kristin tennyson/ lindengrove school, head of school)"...whatever we can do toprepare the kids ahead of timecan greatly reduce theiranxiety."(sot/ tc 4:10/kristin tennyson/ linden groveschool, head of school)"Theydon't like the way certainclothing feels or somethinglike that so to add wearing amask to that child could belike scrubbing burlap on yourface all day.

And how wouldyou be able to toleratewearing that mask if that'swhat it felt like?"(track)(show photos of flyers)Staffsent parents flyers and videosof everything from new soapdispensers(show 720P VIDEO) tointroductions for kids to seetheir teachers with andwithout masks.(show TENNYSONPHOTO)still... Head of SchoolKristin Tennyson is searchingfor tools (show video ofstudents from LINDEN GROVESCHOOL VIDEO)to soothe anxietyso her students can focus andlearn.(show BOOK PHOTO)Callingit a rare find... Tennysonthinks this book "Cameron Goesto School" might help.(showFAMILY PHOTO 2)Brudidge... aformer Newtown mom now livingin Minnesota... wrote it togive away before coronavirus.(show BOOK PHOTO 2)but thestory of her then-non-verbaldaughter conquering first-day-of-school fears(show BOOKAMAZON PAGE) is gettingfive-star reviews and buyersin education.(sot/ tc 9:04/kristin tennyson/ linden groveschool, head of school)"...wehave so few books about kidswith autism..."(sot/ tc 9:37/kristin tennyson/ linden groveschool, head of school)"ifthey're able to relate andpicture themselves, thathelps..."(sot/ tc 10:00/kristin tennyson/ linden groveschool, head of school)"...beable to be more calm, relaxedand reducing your anxiety."(sot/ tc 7:21/ shelettabrundidge/ mom, author)"Thekids are identifying withCameron's story, right.They're identifying withpressing past your fears andlimitations.

They're sayingyou know what, if she can bebrave then I can be brave."(sot/ tc 18:08/ cameronbrundidge/ sheletta's daughter)"(Cameron) it feels likesomething excit(ing)."(track)If you can't tell from ourinterview...(nats from cellphone video - tc :01)"My nameis Cameron Brundidge and I'mgoing to read you a book'Cameron goes to school'..."(track)...Cameron has thatwhole speech thing down pat.She's more confident and...like others her age... tryingto be brave and ready to goback to school.Larry Seward...wcpo... nine news.