Enhancing Lives
Individuals - Families - Communities
Confidence - Competence - Capacity
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Challenging Behavior During Challenging Times
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It has been over nine weeks since our children got out of school for spring break. Nine weeks…that is hard to believe! In some ways, it has gone by quickly, but in others it seems an eternity ago that life was normal. Our current circumstance is especially difficult for families who have a loved one with autism. We are all experiencing some level of uncertainty, stress, and anxiety. However, for children and adults with autism this mix of emotions can be especially difficult. Many individuals with autism have limitations in their ability to express their emotions, and for some it may be very difficult to understand what is going on, why school ended so abruptly, and why daily routines and expectations are so different. All of these factors can contribute to an increase in challenging behavior.
Families and caregivers are also experiencing this mix of emotions and have additional stress due to our current situation. All of these factors can leave parents feeling overwhelmed, and even for the most patient of parents who can typically manage episodes of challenging behavior, it can feel like too much.
In our tip of the week we discuss some strategies and resources that may help you in supporting a loved one with challenging behavior. Please know that we are here to help if you need to talk or if you need assistance identifying resources. Email us at
okautism@ouhsc.edu
and we can set a time to talk by phone or we can communicate by email.
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Several tips to remember about challenging behavior:
- Challenging behavior comes in many forms. Challenging behavior is communication and is often the most effective way for the person with autism to communicate his/her need in that moment.
- When your loved one engages in challenging behavior, think…’What is he/she trying to communicate to me right now?’
- Be cautious about unintentionally reinforcing problem behavior. If we respond by giving our loved one what they want when they engage in the problem behavior, we are increasing the likelihood that he/she will engage in that behavior in the future. Think ‘What do I want him/her to do instead of the problem behavior to get what he/she wants?’ Do your best to support your child in indicating in a more appropriate way what he/she wants and then providing the item, attention, etc. (IMPORTANT NOTE: If your child engages in aggression towards himself or others do not put your child or yourself in harms way. Sometimes you may need to respond to the problem behavior, even if it means giving him/her what he/she wants to keep everyone safe. If this occurs frequently, contact your child’s medical or educational professional for support. Or contact us for help identifying resources.)
- Children with limited ways of occupying time may be more at risk for challenging behavior. Some children with ASD have limited ways of occupying their time outside of electronic devices. Given the extended time we have been at home, even a child who loves an electronic device can become bored over time, and as a result could have an increase in challenging behavior. Or the child may become so attached to the device that the idea of limiting time or taking it away even for short periods can result in problems. Check out the Building New Routines resources for some excellent tips on how to expand ways your child can occupy his/her time. https://afirm.fpg.unc.edu/build-new-routines
- Over time, children may become bored with the extended time at home. They may also begin to miss their old routine, school, and people they were used to seeing on a daily basis. As much as possible build structure and predictability into your day so your child knows what to expect. As much as possible, include a few activities that you can do along with your child. Sometimes you can save a few of your child’s favorite activities to do together, giving you both something to look forward to during the day. The Building New Routines link above includes some excellent pre-made daily routine templates and resource ideas.
- Check out the resources below for additional information and resources to address challenging behavior.
If you are finding yourself in survival mode day after day, reach out to a friend or professional for support. Sometimes we call can get stuck in the midst of the storm and support from someone else can help us take a step forward.
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Upcoming Training Opportunity
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Our webinar
Finding a Place in the World-Transitioning to Adulthood
is scheduled for
June 25th
from
12:00-1:00 with a Q &A
from
1:00- 1:30.
If you registered for the in-person event that was to be held in Tulsa, you do not have to do so again. You will receive an email with log- in information prior to the webinar.
If you have not previously registered and would like to attend you can do so by completing a registration form at:
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What We Know Works: Challenging Behavior
: This one hour webinar provides information for understanding and identifying the function of a challenging behavior, along with strategies for addressing the behavior.
https://okautism.org/Training-Events
What We Know Works: Proactive Parenting Strategies to Build Your Families Skills
: This one hour webinar provides easy to use strategies that benefit us all as parents. Using these strategies can decrease the likelihood of challenging behavior for your loved one with autism.
There are several summer camp opportunities that will still be available this summer that could offer some respite and support. Here are a few.
Camp Tumbleweed-
Camp Tumbleweed will be held virtually this year d
ue to ongoing concerns surrounding COVID-19, and with the safety of our campers and staff in mind. This year's Camp will be offered to pre-teens through young adults, ages 11-21, residing in Oklahoma. Daily sessions will be 2.5 hours long, four days per week. Campers 11-13 will participate in the morning session, 9-11:30 am; 14-21 will participate in the afternoon session, 1:30-4 pm. We're planning on providing a kit full of fun, age-appropriate activities for each of our campers. Camp counselors will offer instruction in a virtual environment (video conferencing). Families needing access to the Internet should contact DRTC for assistance. Funding options are available. For more information, contact the Camp Tumbleweed coordinator at 405-946-4489 ext. 1802 or
email
Charis Hills Camp-
Charis Hills Camp will open as usual with some modifications.
We will follow recommended protocol for personal space. Camp can still have a big social, emotional, and spiritual impact without campers being arm in arm.
We will continue to have small groups and practice social distancing but in a fun camp way. We will practice healthy hygiene habits in an upbeat, positive, and energizing manner. We will practice rigorous hand washing. Hand washing songs are FUN! As usual, we will have hand sanitizers all around camp and at each activity.
https://charishills.org/q-and-a
Make Promises Happen Camp -
Make Promises Happen
will be operating as usual with some modification for this summer. We will be modifying activities and gathering spaces to provide the safest environment for everyone, but want to keep the camp atmosphere as intact as possible. We are planning to reopen June 28
th
, but reevaluating as more information comes in. The events that were to take place before June 28
th
are currently being rescheduled in July, but may be canceled to keep proper CDC guidelines.
http://www.centralokcamp.org/mph/mph-camper
Stay safe and healthy!
The Oklahoma Autism Network Team
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