@Damwow, when we figured out he has autism I did a bunch of research and two things that kept coming up were their issues with being touched and their need for routines. I said that simply isn't going to work for us so we took to holding, hugging, and rough housing with him every time we could. Today he loves getting and giving hugs and is okay being touched.
We also did everything we could to break any routine anytime we saw one developing and tell his teachers every year to try to mix up his day as much as they can given a standard daily routine.
One thing that has really helped with acceptance is after about a week of school a couple of teachers with training in working with kids who have autism come into the class and do some something to help the kids realize that they are all different and talk openly about things they see him doing that are different and talk about how that is the way he deals with stress. Basically we let them ask any questions they have about him and autism and just get it completely out in the open. It is the single best thing we have done for his successful integration into the classroom and the kids in class have been awesome.
Another thing that helps, is that during a meeting we have with his new teacher and school staff, we make it clear that we understand that he is not the only student in the school and that not all the resources of the school are to be thrown at his development and care. We are a team and need to work together and we respect their knowledge, expertise and efforts. So far we have had a great relationship with the schools and it actually helps him get more attention simply because everyone really enjoys working with him and us
Really hope that you get well enough to at least get into your classroom a couple of hours a week just to help your kids out. I know it must be really tough to be separated from a job you love and know that you are helping to form the next gen
