Comments on: Matter of Degree http://faqautism.com/2009/10/matter-of-degree/ a resource for practical ideas Fri, 23 Apr 2010 19:28:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Mary Fletcher Jones http://faqautism.com/2009/10/matter-of-degree/#comment-1009 Mary Fletcher Jones Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:34:14 +0000 http://faqautism.com/?p=1424#comment-1009 I agree and this is how I determine whether the behaviors associated with autism need to be addressed: is it getting in my son's way (now or in the future)? Is it interfering with what he wants to do, or with reaching his full potential? Is it dangerous to himself, or to others? Does it interfere with his learning, or that of others? Or is it annoying me to the point where my quality of life is compromised significantly? And there is always the question of degree, and how important the behavior is to the child. For example, my son likes to flick things. He has told me how important it is to him to be able to do that. I can usually find a socially appropriate way to allow him to flick or just give him time to do that. But sometimes, I really want him to do an activity with me and I need his hands, like mixing batter, if we're making cookies. If I'm feeling frazzled that day or I'm trying to concentrate on driving, I don't have a problem asking him to stop asking me questions. But I explain why, and tell him that I will listen later. But with eloping, which was more serious and had to be stopped, I invested a lot of time and energy into teaching him safe ways to behave and keeping him safe until he stopped the behavior entirely. I agree and this is how I determine whether the behaviors associated with autism need to be addressed: is it getting in my son’s way (now or in the future)? Is it interfering with what he wants to do, or with reaching his full potential? Is it dangerous to himself, or to others? Does it interfere with his learning, or that of others? Or is it annoying me to the point where my quality of life is compromised significantly? And there is always the question of degree, and how important the behavior is to the child.

For example, my son likes to flick things. He has told me how important it is to him to be able to do that. I can usually find a socially appropriate way to allow him to flick or just give him time to do that. But sometimes, I really want him to do an activity with me and I need his hands, like mixing batter, if we’re making cookies. If I’m feeling frazzled that day or I’m trying to concentrate on driving, I don’t have a problem asking him to stop asking me questions. But I explain why, and tell him that I will listen later.

But with eloping, which was more serious and had to be stopped, I invested a lot of time and energy into teaching him safe ways to behave and keeping him safe until he stopped the behavior entirely.

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