FAQautism

Because some individuals with autism do not naturally have the ability to recognize and solve problems, we are looking at a proven plan that helps our friends learn to follow four steps when they encounter a frustrating problem.

Listen Now:

Standard Podcast [ 4:55 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

1. STOP. Recognize the problem. For example, while eating lunch, you find yourself getting very agitated and angry, but you are not sure of the cause. Stop and think for a moment. You realize someone at the next table is making a very irritating noise. Although it doesn’t seem to be bothering anyone else in the room, it is as bad for you as fingernails scratching down a chalkboard.

2. THINK. Consider all options for dealing with the problem. You can throw something at the person, hit them over the head with your shoe, or slap them in the face. You can scream, cry, kick the table, or bite your hand. (Note to people who think these reactions are unrealistic or extreme, please know that many, many individuals with autism have these precise reactions to many daily situations.) Back to the options. When you are very agitated or frustrated by a sound in the room, you can (1) politely ask the person to stop, (2) decide to ignore the sound, (3) put on your iPod earbuds, (4) calmly leave the room, or (5) shout, “Shut up!”

3. CHOOSE. Select the most appropriate solution. Although it seems that the logical solution is to simply ignore the sound or politely excuse yourself from the room, circumstances do not always allow the easy fix. After considering the options, ask for help if your agitation or anger keeps you from coming up with a solution.

4. ACT. Take action. Now that you have made a decision about your reaction to the problem, calmly take one step toward the solution. So, turn on your iPod or quietly move to a different table or start focusing intently on your tacos instead of the noise. Remember that you won’t be able to make everything perfect, but that you can at least take one step toward solving a problem.

TIP FOR THE DAY: Most individuals with autism need some guidance or mentoring when learning this problem solving process. Sometimes we step in and take care of things to avoid problems. In the long run, it is more helpful to let our friends learn to take care of challenges on their own. But, that is a topic for another podcast. For today, focus on systematically teaching these four problem-solving steps: Stop, Think, Choose, and Act.

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

Automatically generated related posts:

1. Problem Solving 1 Our daily lives are filled with challenges. Some people look...
2. Pinpoint the Problem Sometimes a teacher will say that a child never follows...