The Link Between Communication and Behavior Problems in Autism
Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders are known for having behavior challenges. Communication breakdowns are often the reason. If other communication attempts do not accomplish their goals, students will use what works. That frequently can be something we will call a “bad behavior.”
Here’s what one educator shared about managing a meltdown. “I gave a student the chance to just “show me” what he wanted or what was wrong. It turned out that we had taken Library off the class schedule and the student had brought Book Fair money that day. So how was he supposed to get to the Book Fair if Library wasn’t on the schedule! That day confirmed to me that behavior is often communication.”
If you are dealing with behavior challenges, try to look at the whole situation to discover where the communication breakdowns are.
The book Solving Behavior Problems in Autism explores many causes of behavior problems and provides simple solutions by using visual strategies.
Tagged with: Autism • autism behavior challenges • autism behavior problems • Autism Communication
Filed under: Asperger's • Autism • Autism Spectrum Disorders • Linda Hodgdon Autism Author
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Linda,
Thanks for sharing my statement about looking at communication as behavior. I am the “one educator” that you referenced. This really happened my first year teaching. This student with autism was extremely upset, hitting my assistant that was putting the Boardmaker pictures on the daily whole class picture schedule. I had to have her leave the room, he ended up on the floor crying, it was so sad to see him that upset. I happened to catch his glance that he looked at the board where the schedule was and at that point, instead of trying to control his behavior, I just gave him permission to do what he could to help me understand why he was upset and for him to show me if he could. He had an AAC device but I don’t think he would have used it, maybe thrown it, since he was soo upset. We really had no clue why he was upset. He immediately got off the floor, went to the pictures and took off the video picture, which was SHOCKING, because he lived for videos, but instead he put up Library. Luckily I remembered that he had brought money for the Book Fair. My class wasn’t going to go to the library that day because I knew how confused they would have been that they couldn’t buy books without money and they wouldn’t be able to access the school books with the Book Fair taking place, a video was a better choice. Except for this student. I’ve referred to this valuable lesson numerous times and it has helped me to be a better communicator with my students. I’ve told this story many times as well to help others learn the same lesson I did. I think as parents and teachers we think they kids should just do what we say, no questions asked, but they don’t understand. By giving them the opportunities to “explain” themselves, “SHOW ME” opened up the door for us to communicate about why this student was upset. This is especially important when there isn’t an obvious reason to you.
Thanks for all you.
Regina Fernandez
Fairfield City School District
Fairfield, OH
Thanks for letting me know who you are! Unfortunately, the survey answers were put into a data base so I couldn’t track who provided that answer. You have demonstrated how using some wise observation can prevent a potential meltdown.