Dangerous Actions 3
What are your options when your friend with autism hits, bites, kicks, pulls hair, throws items, jumps out of a moving car, eats dangerous items, or otherwise endangers themselves or other people? This is part three of a series of discussions that identifies these potentially dangerous actions and provides two rules we simply MUST implement immediately when we encounter these situations.
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Rule #1 is to remove the opportunity, immediately and permanently. Caregivers must take swift action to protect the well-being of all involved. So, if a person with autism reaches out to hurt other people, do not take time to lecture him about the consequences of his actions. Instead, calmly move people out of his reach. If a person with autism compulsively drinks toxic cleaners, do not waste your breath warning them of the dangers of the harmful liquids. It is YOUR responsibility to remove ALL toxic substances from their environment. Not just out of their reach, but totally gone. Period. This is not the time to “teach a lesson.” Safety is the first concern.
Rule #2 is to recognize and remove catalysts for dangerous actions and hurtful behavior. For example, if the lights of a television flickering down the hallway cause an emotional meltdown by your youngster every night, resulting in his biting, screaming, and hitting at bedtime, then turn off the television. Or move it. If a teen screams, hits people, and clears the shelves in a grocery store, don’t take him to the grocery store for the time being. Even if you must pay a sitter to keep him while you grocery shop, it is cheaper than paying medical bills and paying to replace all those broken containers and store shelves.
One of my young students constantly reached out to hit, scratch, and bite fellow students and teachers – anyone sitting within reach – during circle time in his early childhood classroom. We recognized that he was simply over-stimulated by close proximity, so we placed his chair directly in front of but out of his reach of the teacher, with the other students circled out of reach behind him. Once the catalyst of close personal contact was removed, he was able to relax and enjoy the group activity.
In some cases, our actions can cause or escalate hurtful, dangerous behaviors. Does our nagging, our threatening to remove privileges, or our impatient response to a situation trigger a violent reaction or aggressive behavior? Are we inconsistent, or do we only address a behavior when it bugs us? If so, we need to monitor our own behavior and make certain we do not make matters worse.
Granted, we cannot control all catalysts of dangerous actions or hurtful behaviors. Sometimes things like hormones, blood sugar fluctuations, illness, internal reactions or scripts, or extraordinary sensory sensitivities to unavoidable issues such as temperature or environmental sounds are catalysts for extreme behaviors. But it is still our responsibility to do what we can to scout out those factors, eliminate what we can, and gradually teach tolerance for those we cannot.
TIP FOR THE DAY: These examples only scratch the surface about dangerous actions by individuals with autism. But we can help keep our friends and the people around them safe if we remember these two rules: Rule #1: Remove the opportunity, and Rule #2: Recognize and remove the catalyst to potentially harmful behavior.
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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