INSTRUCTION BEGINS WITH LETTING GO OF THE KITE

CAC Parent Presentation April 3, 2013

COLETTE ROSARIO, M.A.

LAUSD AUTISM SUPPORT

Road to Independence …

We fall into routines and ruts

And our children rely on them

Learned helplessness - enabling their disability to persist.

What are your routines and ruts?

Nighttime rituals (using a baby bottle after 2 years old)

Allowing children to play with younger aged toys or watch younger aged movies

Speaking to them with a baby voice

Allowing your child to receive minimal requests for communication efforts

 Pacifiers used beyond the age of 3

Hundreds of toys micro-managed and the loss of one toy results in a major tantrum

More?? Be honest! I do themExcluding food allergy issues – allowing the child to choose the same foods without expanding their food repertoire beyond the age of 4

“Owning” the television or computer and not developing healthy sharing habits with other family members Sleeping with the parents &refusing to sleep in

their own bed or room.Completely dressing your child when they are 4

or olderCatering to the child’s needs when the child is

capable of serving himself

And more…. Allowing the special needs child to run your family life Interfering with therapy time (i.e., staying in the room or interrupting professionals)

Have your typical children perform chores but not your child with a disability

Letting the diagnosis be the excuse for all bad behaviors

Discuss your issues with your neighbor

These issues are ones that:We have to tackle and keep in check every day

Can be complex, exceedinglydifficult to manage or change

Exhaust us just to maintain

We must learn to pick our battles wisely

3 steps to break out of that rut and push our children to reach their true capabilities

Step 1 - Identify the routine or habit to be changed

◦keep a daily journal and look for those routines and habits that should be changed & write them down

◦Be honest and accurate

◦Rely on others to help identify these based on their experiences with typical children.

Step 2Review your issue with a close

person to identify the habits that are too young for your child

Prioritize which ones you would like to see your child eliminate or graduate from to the next step

Focus on the most basic or neediest one

Step 3 Collaboration

Communicate to your team - review and set goals with your service providers

Have them work with you on a plan to assist in graduating your child to the next step or eliminating a routine

Remain open to their advice and utilize suggestions that can help your child graduate to the next level

Begin early - now!!!

Example: Thomas the Train at 12 Getting Rid of an a Non-Age-Appropriate Toys

Remember it is so important to move up in age–

Week 1&2: Remove one Thomas toy a week to a place where your child will never find it

When the child starts looking for those particular toys, distract them with a new age-appropriate toy

Week 3 &4: start removing 4 Thomas the Train toys a week

Replace with new age-appropriate toys as you take the older toys away

Week 5: accelerate the loss of toys as fast as possible until you have removed them all

Important Notes:

You must avoid the old toy at all costs during this process

It will be easier when you do this again to move to the next level

Remember you don’t want your 20 year old playing with Thomas the Train

So….How does all of this relate to school, homework, and learning instruction?????

Discuss this with your neighbor….

Give them jobs!! Chores – The First Job a Child Ever Has

Think back to your childhood chores My typical daughter began chores at

age 3

My son/s chores did not begin until he was 6

How can we teach a child how to do a chore???

Teach them by breaking down tasks

Tackle each item methodically, consistently and one at a time

Break down the steps of an activity

Use simple language

Use visuals for each step  

Use proper reinforcement

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=kid+chores+chart&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=qadxKRF7b8unPM&tbnid=oYzO0EyWYqtAYM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://justsweetandsimple.blogspot.com/2011/05/kids-chore-charts.html&ei=j4BDUZ-8NsKCyAHA7YGICQ&bvm=bv.43828540,d.aWc&psig=AFQjCNHvxj8-7Hdnaj3_AWzE3jPvOzYpiw&ust=1363464555625372

Self Check List  

Date Sheldon’s Checklist I did it by myself

I needed prompting

I didn’t do it

1. I listened to directions

2. I asked questions if I did not understand directions

3. I pulled out the materials I needed (book, folder, pencils)

4. I covered up some of my work if it was too confusing.

5. I completed my work

6. I answered honestly

Why use reinforcers?

Reinforcing New Behaviors

Reinforcers must be motivating to your child

Determine your child’s “likes” & “wants”

Some reinforcement suggestions include: favorite toy, food, TV program, or play activity.

Be sure to reward each phase or step.

Initially, reinforcement should occur immediately and consistently.

Reinforcement should be contingent on display of new behavior

    

first

    

then

When I do my work, I can earn…

5 minutes outside

5 minutes

of computer

Pretzel

When I do my work, I can earn…

5 minutes outside

5 minutes

of computer

Pretzel

ReinforcersUse simple language Use a variety of reinforcers Continuously develop and identify

reinforcers.Use age appropriate reinforcers. 

Types of reinforcers◦ Sensory◦ Natural ◦ Material ◦ Generalized◦ Social

Discuss with your neighbor the following:

How does all of this relate to school, homework, and learning instruction?????

The Home – School Connection

School Relationships Meet with teachers to establish a positive

and collaborative relationship

Establish home school communication system

Notebook to go between Or pre-made check list

Let teacher know of any changes in home environment◦If child is not well or other changes to affect his

moods, learning 

The Homework Battle Environment Separate space that works

◦ Quiet or is a little white noise better?◦ In an area where the child is not distracted

Scheduling ◦ Establish consistent time schedule daily ◦ Create a visual schedule so the child knows ◦ Break down the homework into manageable parts

Use self-check list for accomplishments

Use lots of visuals when working with them

Set timer for each task of the homework

Self Check List  

Date Sheldon’s Checklist I did it by myself

I needed prompting

I didn’t do it

1. I listened to directions

2. I asked questions if I did not understand directions

3. I pulled out the materials I needed (book, folder, pencils)

4. I covered up some of my work if it was too confusing.

5. I completed my work

6. I answered honestly

Homework Self Check List  

to do Sheldon’s Checklist I did it by myself

I needed prompting

I didn’t do it

1. Math

2. Reading

3. Writing

4. Special Projects

5. I completed my work

6. I answered this checklist honestly

When I do my work, I can earn…

5 minutes outside

5 minutes

of computer

Pretzel

Reinforcement should be contingent on display of new behavior

    

first

    

then

Reinforcements, breaks, choices and more

Reinforcement and breaks◦ establish reinforcers ahead of time◦ Ex: Have child choose 3 items (piece of candy, water, iphone

game,etc ) ◦ Reinforcement Then he gets to choose which item he wants

when the time is up and he completed his work◦ Have him do a little work and then receive a break

Offer choices◦ Example: pen or pencil

Exposure ◦ Limit exposure to an entire page of homework

Make learning a game ◦ (identifying site words, by concentration, matching game, gold

fish)

Help??? I don’t know this!To help you help your child with homework

Resources: use siblings, cousins, other relatives, neighbors, friendsto help your child learn

Ask school, teacher, staff for afterschool assistance

◦ The Internet is our friend!!

Dealing with Stress and Anxiety Prepare your child for

experiences in the immediate futureUse social narratives to describe Role play the upcoming activitiesUse drawings, visuals, photographsUse self-regulation calming

techniques◦Smell the flower, blow out the candle◦Counting to 10

To Learn - Be AssertiveTeach your child to be assertive

You are a mind reader but…

Get your child to ask for what they want

Roleplay with them how they can ask a teacher or other adults to explain something to them or repeat directions

One more step towards independence!!

Work on child’s independenceMake it a team effort

Begin early - now!!!

Remind yourself of your child’s strengths

Take care of yourself

Enjoy your child

With appreciation for all you do…

Reference: TACA

Talk About Curing Autismhttp://www.tacanow.org/