10 ESSENTIAL INTERVENTIONS FOR

CHILDREN WITH AUTISM

BY ALEX ORSAK

MY ETHOS

HIGH FUNCTIONING ASPIE

COLLEGE GRADUATE WITH A BACHELORS IN COMMUNICATION BROADCASTING AND SPECIAL EDUCATION

FOUNDER OF JIGSAW MSU: COLLEGE SUPPORT GROUP FOR STUDENTS WITH ASD

STRONG ADVOCATE FOR AUTISM AWARENESS

WHO AM I?THE SIX A’S

AN ARTIST

AN ACTOR

AN AGITATOR

AN ACTIVIST

AN ASPIRER

AN ACHIEVER

THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE

SHINING TIME STATION

THEODORE TUGBOAT

FLOOR PLANS

INTERIOR DESIGN

INTERVENTION 1RESEARCH

INTERVENTION 2ACCOMMODATION

PRACTICE IN DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS

PREPARE FOR POSSIBLE SENSORY OVERLOAD OR MELDOWNS

GRADUALLY DISOLVE YOUR PROTECTION FROM OVERSTIMULATION

INTERVENTION 3ORGANIZATION

PLAN OUT ROUTINES

HAVE BACK-UP PLANS IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES

TEACH YOUR CHILD HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE UNEXPECTED

INTERVENTION 4SETTING GOALS

NO GOAL IS TOO HIGH

SET REASONABLE BUT CHALLENGING GOALS

FAILURE IS A GOOD THING

REWARD CHILD WHEN GOAL IS MET

INTERVENTION 5POSITIVE

REINFORCEMENT ONLY REWARD GOOD BEHAVIOR

USE DIFFERENT REWARDS

DO NOT USE FOOD AS A REWARD EVERY TIME

DO NOT REWARD BAD BEHAVIOR WITH ATTENTION

INTERVENTION 6SELF DETERMINATION

TEACH YOUR CHILD HOW TO COMPLETE TASKS INDEPENDENTLY

ALWAYS GIVE YOUR CHILD MORE RESPONSIBILITIES

FIND YOUR CHILD WORK IN THE COMMUNITY

DON’T SHOW THEM EVERYTHING

INTERVENTION 7ROLE MODELING

BE THE PERSON YOU WANT YOUR CHILD TO BE

MODEL GOOD BEHAVIOR

DO NOT BLAME YOUR CHILD FOR REPEATING YOUR BAD BEHAVIOR

INTERVENTION 8HEALTH AND FITNESS

A GOOD DIET IS NOT SUPER EXPENSIVE

EXERCISE WITH YOUR CHILD

KEEP A GOOD EXERCISE ROUTINE AND PLAN OUT A WEEKLY/DAILY MEAL PLAN

REWARD YOUR CHILD WHEN THEY TRY NEW FOODS AND EXERCISES

INTERVENTION 9AWARENESS

EDUCATE YOUR CHILD ABOUT AUTISM. HELP THEM TO BE FAMILIAR WITH HOW THEY AFFECT OTHERS AND HOW OTHERS AFFECT THEM

NEVER LET YOU OR YOUR CHILD USE AUTISM AS AN EXCUSE FOR ANYTHING. AUTISM IS NOT AN EXCUSE, IT IS AN EXPLAINATION

INTERVENTION 10LOVE

NO FRICKIN DUH!

SHOW YOUR CHILD EVERY DAY HOW MUCH YOU LOVE THEM

BE PROUD THAT YOU HAVE A CHILD WITH AUTISM, AND FLAUNT THAT PRIDE

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A BAD

EXPERIENCE;ONLY A BAD MOMENT