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Managing Daily Stresses for Parents and Caregivers of children on the Autism Spectrum

Managing Daily Stresses for Parents and Caregivers of children on the Autism Spectrum. Tim Wahlberg Ph.D. twahlberg@sbcglobal.net www.theprairieclinic.com. Autistic Neurological Architecture. Static Systems Mean to an end Linear Basic needs met Dynamic Systems

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Managing Daily Stresses for Parents and Caregivers of children on the Autism Spectrum

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  1. Managing Daily Stresses for Parents and Caregivers of children on the Autism Spectrum Tim Wahlberg Ph.D. twahlberg@sbcglobal.net www.theprairieclinic.com

  2. Autistic Neurological Architecture • Static Systems • Mean to an end • Linear • Basic needs met • Dynamic Systems • Every changing and evolving system • Social system (the unknown)

  3. Autistic Behavior • A B C Antecedent Behavior Consequence • Why is the child exhibiting the behavior? • What purpose is the behavior serving? • Manipulation or ASD?

  4. Daily Stresses • Take care of self • Work as a team • Take time away • Decrease stress

  5. Speaking with Children with ASD • Try not to use emotional language • Present data when appropriate • Factual data • Try to avoid arguing, make point move on

  6. Speaking with Children with ASD • Use objective information rather than subjective (concrete, factual info) • May need to be alone to process • Nothing against you • Prefer to be alone when upset (school?) • Talk less, ask fewer questions

  7. Daily Stresses • Managing Behavior • Create a black and white system • ASD children can use people to break the cycle • They need to learn to break the cycle on their own

  8. Establishing Boundaries • Key to intervention is the establishment of black and white boundaries (driving etc.) • Once we establish boundaries we need to • Teach children how to navigate these boundaries • Rewards and Consequences • Keep in Mind; They don’t have to like it, just do it (life skill)

  9. Establishing Boundaries • The most successful children have parents that set good boundaries • Hold to boundaries • Stay consistent • Say “NO” • Very hard to do • Jurassic Park

  10. Autistic Behavior • “My Time vs. Your Time” • Work in morning, earn time on computer • Motivation Extrinsic vs. Intrinsic • Good “life skill” • You don’t have to like it, you just have to do it • Simplest form of engagement

  11. Autistic Behavior • “CONTROL” self, emotions, behavior • Prompting Prior • Executive Functioning Deficit • Give two choices A or B • You will eventually react to a behavior • At school and at home

  12. Thinking Behavior Outcome X X X Executive Functioning

  13. Sensory Diet • Providing Stimulation • Calming the student down • Excitatory and inhibitory neurons • Types of stimulation • OT help to create sensory diet • Vestibular, proprioceptive (Scott)

  14. Brain Brain Homeostasis Homeostasis Stimulation Stimulation

  15. Autistic Behavior • Agitation • Aggression • Intervention • 1. Structure/Lead time • 2. Pictures or written schedule, procedures • Calendar • 3. Communication Device • 4. Asking questions (cards yellow, green)

  16. Autistic Behavior • Agitation • Aggression • Cut down on work load • Can’t see the Gestalt (Forest caterpillar) • Solitary time needed during and after school in order to process the day and calm down • Mom is the lightning rod

  17. Autistic Behavior • Attending to Information • 1. Lost in meaning • 2. Caught on a single thought/word • The “N” game • Intervention • 1. Where did I lose you? • 2. Can you explain what I just said?

  18. Establishing Boundaries • Teach them how to problem solve various situations • Problem Solving • Break down the information into more concrete facts • Looking at other variables, possibilities or perspectives • We need to teach individuals with ASD how to accomplish this • Practice

  19. DECISION MAKING • Prompting prior to 0-10, recognizing negative situation prior • Prompting prior to negative situation • Prompting throughout the day

  20. How I Feel Right Now 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

  21. 1. 2. 3. 4.

  22. Using Visual Systems • Tab system • Timers, need to be visual • Basketball timers • www.usevisualstrategies.com • Stop light timers “timer tracker” • www.learningresources.com

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