Break It Down
Toilet Training. Getting dressed. Staying in chair. Saying hello. Writing name. Paying attention. Stop biting. Riding in school bus. Playing with others. Stopping echolalia. Staying calm. Getting a job. Keeping a job. These are just some of the issues that teachers, therapists, and family members deal with every day as they spend time with individuals with autism. Each one of those issues can seem insurmountable in the face of the deficits in communication and social skills as well as restrictive, inflexible, obsessive behaviors inherent in autism. So, where do we start?
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Each individual with autism has a different profile of strengths and deficits. And each individual has a different personality. So any successful strategy for developing a new skills or for decreasing inappropriate or hurtful behaviors must be individualized for that particular person’s unique circumstances. But there are some basic principles that can be applied to any situation. Here are some tips for developing and implementing a plan to help a person with autism learn new skills, decrease inappropriate behaviors, and maximize his potential.
1. ANALYZE. Take a look at a skill in light of a person’s areas of strength and deficit. Consider his motor skills, cognitive skills, his level of cooperation, his receptive and expressive communication skills, and his level of motivation. Look closely to see what causes an inappropriate behavior – don’t just assume he is defiant. Explore reasons for barriers to a person learning – don’t just assume they aren’t trying hard enough.
2. BREAK IT DOWN. Decide exactly what you want the person to learn – either a new skill or a new behavior that is incompatible with the inappropriate behavior. Break down the new skill in accessible, incremental steps, based on his functioning level. Don’t wait until the skill is completely mastered – celebrate each step, not matter how tiny the accomplishment.
3. STATE IN POSITIVE TERMS. Instead of saying, “Hurry up and get dressed,” you could say, “Please put on your socks now.” Instead of saying “Don’t hit Billy,” say “Hands on knees, now.” Instead of saying, “Pay attention or you will not hear what I want you to do next,” you can say, “Good listener – ears open – listen to these words.”
4. STICK WITH IT. The success of helping a person make incremental progress depends as much on your patience as on his efforts. Remember that it may take two weeks or even two months to take even one step forward. Compared to an entire lifetime of total dependence, the time you spend helping him achieve some degree of independence will reap rich rewards.
TIP FOR THE DAY. Don’t try to transform your friend with autism into a perfect person overnight. Instead, pick your priorities, break down skills, and patiently help them take one step at a time.
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 a confidential email at talk@FAQautism.com with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solution. 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
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