Micromanagement
“Sometimes it seems like we are micromanaging every aspect of our student’s lives,” commented an experienced teacher of elementary students with autism. “If I were in their shoes, I would certainly be irritated if everyone at home and at school was constantly implementing strategies to change everything I thought or did or said.”
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All of us – teachers, therapists, family members, and others interested in the well-being of individuals with autism – need to occasionally take a step back and look at the overall quality of life of our friends. Must we strive for perfection? Are there some issues that are not top-priority? Can we allow some details to slip through the cracks?
Some behaviors are simply inherent in autism. In the past few weeks, I’ve had conversations with family members, teachers, therapists, and residential staff about some of the following issues.
(1) Is it critical that we take away a ragged blanket or toy that a pre-teen clings to obsessively?
(2) Must we introduce an intensive strategy to eliminate rocking or soft humming sounds for individuals who are generally content and compliant?
(3) Is there any merit in forcing a person with autism to maintain eye contact with a person who is speaking to them?
(4) Must every minute of the day be structured, or is it appropriate to allow some downtime e.g. sitting on a couch with a collection of old toys after school every day.
The answers to these challenging questions are, of course, different for every individual. But, in general terms, we need to be careful to avoid micromanaging every detail of any person’s life, including individuals with autism. We welcome your thoughts about these issues. Either click on the “comment” button on the website, or send us an e-mail message talk@FAQautism.com
Note to FAQautism.com listeners and readers: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. You can click on a button to send me an email with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solutions. Check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. www.FAQautism.com
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