Everyone Needs A Vacation

    I was fortunate enough to take a much needed break this summer and just returned from a great week at the beach. Many of us plan or try and take some sort of break from the everyday rush and noises of life. Our responsibilities such as our families, jobs, and life in general can leave us wanting to escape to a place where life slows down, the sounds of traffic go away, the alarm clock can be turned off, and we can focus on our health and relaxing. But what if you couldn't turn off the "noise"?  What if you couldn't escape the rush of life you felt around you or go to a place where life slowed down? This is the something that many adults and children with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders) are unable to do on a daily basis or at any time at all. It is often referred to as sensory overload.
 Sound, sight, and touch can often cause individuals with ASD to react in way that to others look like "bad behaviors."  However, we have to remember that every behavior has a function. I was reminded of this while I was at the beach. I was very relaxed and enjoying the sound of the surf, and I noticed a mom talking to a young girl who was probably around 13 years old. She was sitting on the sand and letting the waves rush over her legs as she played repeatedly with the sand beneath her hands. The mom was telling the young girl to "stand up, it was time to go." The young girl continued to play in the sand and not respond to the mom.  My daughter who has been part of the generation of Autism Awareness and always learning from the kids I teach, asked if I thought  the young girl might have Autism. "She may."  Just as we walked past, the quick thinking mom grabbed a bucket, put the wet sand in it and placed the girls hand in the bucket. the girl transferred the repetitive movement to the bucket and eventually went with her mom. How awesome that nature created a sensory playground for this young lady and that her mom had learned how to keep her daughter engaged in the activity.  She wasn't ignoring mom, she had just found a way to relax and she did not want to leave her spot. How many of us can relate to that.
   I recently watched a show with a young lady named  Carly Fleischmann who was diagnosed with Autism when she was very young.  She is non verbal but communicates by spelling and typing on a computer. She is an amazing young lady. She mentioned that many of us doodle on paper when we are bored. She may flap her hands or rock because she is bored. We may move to another room when noise is loud while she may cover her ears. In other words, look at the action, what came before it, what is the behavior, and what is the consequence following the behavior.  If covering your ears removes a noise the behavior will be reinforced and most likely be repeated. How often do we as mom's find a spot to hide from the kids when we are on the phone...you know what I'm talking about :) If it works, and the kids can't find your "hiding" spot, aren't you more likely to return to that spot?  Yes, you know what I am talking about. Lol!
  But this is more serious. Remember the next time your student or your child is behaving in a manner that may not make sense to you, look at the behavior, try and find what the function of the behavior is, and how you or something else is reinforcing the behavior. EVERY behavior has a function. What you can do is help make the function of the behavior age appropriate and if the behavior is inappropriate or unwanted at the moment, find a way to replace it with an appropriate behavior that gives the child same function. It's not easy and takes practice, but I think the mom at the beach had it down.
   If you are interested in reading about Carly, here is the link:  http://carlysvoice.com/home/aboutcarly/.
Here is a link to a free download I have on TpT that may work as well. I have had a lot of success with it and it is portable and non invasive. The Behavior Badge Card, is a visual support for students with behavioral needs, such as those with Autism. Take a look and if you like it, follow me for updates on more creations for the home and classroom. 
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Behavior-Badge-Card-for-Special-Education-Autism-EBD-MOID-466816

Hope everyone had a Terrific Tuesday!!!!
~Jenna