Shaping Behavior
By its very nature, autism spans a vast array of issues. Each person diagnosed with autism deals with a unique mixture of strengths and limitations. There is no single approach or type of intervention that works for every person. In fact, a strategy that works for an individual one day may be ineffective for that same individual the next week. So, teachers, family members, therapists, and others interested in the well-being of individuals with autism are always developing new strategies or revising existing strategies. This podcast overviews an eight-step procedure for developing effective strategies for addressing difficult behaviors.
Listen Now:
or
Step 1. BE A DETECTIVE. Take a close look at the frequency and causes of difficult behaviors. Pinpoint specific behaviors. For example, you can’t develop an effective strategy for “He just drives me crazy because he never listens to me and he just refuses to follows directions.” But you can address this behavior goal: To follow, within five minutes, the one-step verbal and picture-cued direction to put on his shoes with no more than two prompts.
Step 2. REPLACE DIFFICULT BEHAVIORS. Find alternatives for disruptive, hurtful, and inappropriate behaviors. For example, if a person compulsively crams all of the food on his plate into his mouth, just serve one bite at a time on his plate without fanfare while talking calmly about happenings of the day. After he swallows that bite, calmly putting another bite on his plate.
Step 3. STATE DESIRED BEHAVIOR. Use positive terms to state the desired behavior explicitly. For example, many of us say things like: “I wish you would quit hitting your friends. Don’t grab that book. You’d better quit grabbing things or you won’t get to go out to recess.” Instead, say “Pauline, hands on knees now, please.” Pair visual cues e.g. picture schedules, photo cards, gestures, and/or written words with your spoken direction.
Step 4. MOTIVATE COMPLIANCE. Don’t assume the individual is purposefully misbehaving. Give her a reason to want to pay attention to your words, to change the status quo, and to follow directions.
Step 5. PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES. Give the individual lots of opportunities to practice new behaviors. Some folks understand scripted role-playing, while others just need natural opportunities to be built into their day until the new response or behavior is a routine habit.
Step 6. BE CONSISTENT. Give a predictable, matter-of-fact, calm response every time. Don’t wait until your patience has run out before addressing a behavior.
Step 7. BE PATIENT. Your new strategy will probably not make difficult behaviors magically disappear. Be patient while new behaviors are shaped one step at a time. Don’t forget to acknowledge and celebrate those little steps.
Step 8. NURTURE JOY. Encourage laughter, contentment, positive attitudes, and friendships.
Remember to click on the “Behavior Issues” section of our website to get more details and more ideas for dealing with difficult behaviors.
NOTE TO READERS AND LISTENERS: 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. Feel free to send me an email with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solution. Send email to talk@FAQautism.com And don’t forget to check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. http://FAQautism.com
Automatically generated related posts:
- Difficult Behaviors Developing effective strategies for dealing with difficult behaviors is challenging...
- Slow Progress When it comes to taming very disruptive or inappropriate behaviors,...
- Escalating Behavior Whether at age four or fourteen or even forty, some...
- An Elusive Goal Effective behavior management is an elusive goal. A friend with...
- Hitting and Biting Part 2 In part 1 of this conversation about hitting and biting,...