I used the boardmaker program and made my daughter a "health folder". It had an envelope in it for a couple of pads. It had pictures with step by step directions of what to do to put on a pad or to take off a pad and replace it. There are so many abstract terms associated with the pad such as "wings" so I drew a line to the "wings". If you would like, I can scan the page I made and send it to you, just let me know. It was very successful. I also had my daughter practice in the summer and put on a pad and wear it. She was better prepared than her two older sisters who do not have disabilities. I also ended up making 12 "health folders" for the ESE class in one of our middle schools.

Get the book: Taking Care of Myself, author: Wroebel. Also: write social stories to go with it, use appropriate pictures. Also get kid friendly anatomy books: available at Barnes & Noble or Amazon, show her how bodies change.

If you still menstruate, include her when you do. Have girl talk in the bathroom while you change your pad. If she notices, then just say it's something girls do when they get older. Nothing to worry about. Be very matter of fact: this is what happens, this is what we do for it to stay clean and healthy... If you can show her it's natural in a comfortable everyday way, she won't be shocked when she starts. She will see it as growing up. It's the sex talk and where babies come from that gets a bit sticky; this is a cake walk. My aspie daughter has done quite well tracking her cycle and be prepared.

hello, my daughter is 9 and she has breasts also.. the starting of them anyways.. I asked her if she wants to get a bra and she said no!! Im dreading puberty cause she isnt potty trained and its gonna be a big mess!!

Is there an older sister she can go into the bathroom with when the sister's on her period? Or maybe she can go with you if you still menstuate? That's what worked with my daughter before she started her period. She started last summer when she was 10 so yeah, you need to be prepared. My daughter has high-functioning autism, is almost non-verbal but has done great with her menstual cycle. Lately though, she has started cramping more and bleeding a lot. Not sure what we will do if the cramps get really bad.