No Place to Go
Sometimes holidays and three day weekends can be frustrating for families of individuals with autism who have particularly unusual or disruptive behaviors. A teenage sister summed it up by saying her family had never been on a vacation because of her brother’s sudden outbursts, loud screams and shouting that seem to come from nowhere. She said she loves her brother, but isn’t really interested in going to a county fair or movie or other public place with him because his outbursts can startle and frighten people.
or
continue reading
The natural response to this dilemma is to encourage the family to train the young man to be quiet in public places, But, sometimes this is easier said than done. We can certainly shape and mold behavior to a certain extent. Many youngsters who scream or shout can gradually be taught to decrease the frequency and loudness of their sudden outbursts. At the same time, many individuals with explosive and disruptive behaviors do not respond so readily to our attempts to extinguish these inappropriate outbursts.
Meanwhile, the family can be isolated, having no place to go on holidays or long weekends. Let’s look at some options that might work for all concerned.
1. Split up. One option is to get out and about in shifts. For example, mom and kids can go shopping in the morning while dad stays home to play video games with brother, then dad can take the rest of the family to the matinee movie while mom enjoys some quiet time with brother.
2. Get Rowdy. Find some public places where loud noises are not a problem. For example, the whole family can enjoy a cookout or a hike in a large park where the crowds are thin. Or the family can take a trip to the beach where the surf and wide-open spaces just swallow up loud sounds.
3. Celebrate at home. Round up some good food and some favorite movies and video games, then invite extended family or friends who are accustomed to a youngster’s loud outbursts to come join the fun. Or spend time in the back yard with a trampoline or water sprinkler or gardening.
TIP FOR THE DAY: We cannot always control every aspect of a person’s behavior, but, if we plan carefully and think creatively, we can still find some activities for everyone to enjoy.
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:
- Public Bathrooms We receive many inquiries about the issue of public restrooms...
- I Like Loud Some of our friends with autism have rather extreme sensitivities...
- Public Restrooms What about public restrooms? A mom wrote: “I’m a mom...
- Noisy Kids 1 For a variety of reasons, some individuals with autism occasionally...
- Public Outbursts A youngster with autism randomly shouts out when in church,...