Parents, caregivers incorporate ASK strategies in caring for children with autism

Need support in addressing challenging behaviors in children with autism? Just ASK.
 
Easterseals’ Autism Center of Excellence’s Debbie Neller, OTL/R, is spearheading a program with parents and caregivers in which she provides behavior-modification tactics through ASK: Autism Strategies Know-How. The one-hour program is empowering parents by improving their understanding of autism and increasing their confidence in supporting children on the autism spectrum.
 
Neller begins each session by explaining what autism is: A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulty with communication and socialization and often displayed with restricted interests and repetitive behaviors. According to statistics by Autism Speaks, autism occurs in 1 in 59 births and is 4-5 times more common in boys.
 
Common challenging areas for children with autism usually include anything sensory related, such as feeding, toileting, speech and oral or physical hygiene. Throughout each training, Neller encourages parents and caregivers to be astute observers of their children, and to not be afraid to implement new tactics. She recommends five research-supported strategies:

• First/Then Boards – These boards or visual displays (created with pictures, objects, in writing or by using apps), simply show what the child needs to do now (first) and what she needs to do next (then). First/Then Boards often are used before misbehavior and/or when a child refuses to complete a task.
• ShoeBoxTasks – ShoeBoxTasks® support a child who’s learning how to learn. The program presents a work flow from left to right; children understand the work that needs to be accomplished based on the visual structure of the task. Children are encouraged to move from one task to the next through positive reinforcement.
• Contingency Maps - Contingency maps can help a child understand the consequences of behavior choices. They graphically organize a child’s behavior into positive and negative and illustrate results of the path the child chooses.
• Visual Schedules – Visual schedules are simple schedules of the day and can entail more detailed schedule of a section of the day, too. For example, a visual schedule can be created as an overview of the primary tasks of the day – breakfast, resting time and sports. Ruther, morning time, for example, can be visually comprised of getting dressed, eating breakfast and brushing teeth.
• Time/Timer – Timers can help in showing a child "how much longer" remains for a task and can increasing his confidence and independence.

 
Neller encourages parents and caregivers of children with autism to be patient with themselves and remain hopeful on their journey while she illustrates the many strategies they can employ.
 
“I remind parents that their child is still the child they know and love and many methods exist to help their child in the most beneficial ways,” said Neller. “The ASK program helps adults understand the mind of a child with autism, while adding tools to the toolbox if and when they are needed.”
 
“We want these children’s homes to be filled with enthusiasm and laughter,” said Neller. “Empowering parents to be more effective in how interact with their children is an important step toward that reality.”
 
For more information about ASK or to schedule a presentation, contact Easterseals’ Autism Center of Excellence at 386-255-4568.

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