Navigating a Child with Autism Refusal to Go to School

If your child with autism refuses to go to school, you’re not alone. School can be a frightening and overwhelming place for many kids, but there are a lot of factors that can make it even more intimidating for children with autism, from the sights and sounds around them to the expectations of a classroom setting. As a parent, it can be heartbreaking and frustrating to navigate these challenges. But there is hope. With the right understanding and autism resources, you can find the underlying reasons behind school refusal and implement compassionate, proactive strategies to ease your child’s anxiety and create a positive path forward.

Navigating a Child with Autism Refusal to Go to School

If your child with autism refuses to go to school, you’re not alone. School can be a frightening and overwhelming place for many kids, but there are a lot of factors that can make it even more intimidating for children with autism, from the sights and sounds around them to the expectations of a classroom setting. As a parent, it can be heartbreaking and frustrating to navigate these challenges. But there is hope. With the right understanding and autism resources, you can find the underlying reasons behind school refusal and implement compassionate, proactive strategies to ease your child’s anxiety and create a positive path forward.

What Is School Refusal?

School refusal occurs when a child experiences intense distress at the thought of going to school, making attendance difficult or even impossible. Although children without autism may also struggle with school-related anxiety, children with autism often experience it more intensely due to sensory challenges, difficulties with reading and verbal comprehension, executive functioning challenges, and differences in their fine and gross motor skills. The difficulties children with autism can experience in a classroom setting can create overwhelming barriers to learning, social interaction, and daily routines, often leading to increased anxiety and resistance toward attending school.

This refusal can go from reluctance and hesitation to outright avoidance, leading to missed school days or extended absences. School is one of the most important aspects of a child’s development. It gives them opportunities to build social connections, gain independence, and develop the skills and knowledge that will help them thrive throughout their lives. So, if your child with autism  is refusing to go to school, it’s important to figure out why and make sure you’re providing the right support to address the issues and help them feel safe and comfortable in a school environment.

Autism and School Refusal: What Are the Signs and Symptoms?

If your child has been diagnosed with autism, refusal behavior may be a hurdle you will need to overcome in your parenting journey. The signs of school refusal are similar across all children, making it difficult for parents and caregivers to know how to respond. School-related anxiety can be caused by sensory overload, social struggles, academic pressures, or past negative experiences, and pinpointing the exact reason isn’t always easy. The emotional toll on parents — worry, frustration, and uncertainty — can make finding the right approach even more challenging. Let’s take a look at some of the signs and symptoms of school refusal: 

• Your child begs and pleads not to go.
• Trouble sleeping the night before school.
• Increase in complaints of being sick and feeling unwell before a school day.
• An increase in anxiety. 
• More meltdowns and avoidance behaviors.
• Difficulties following morning routines.

Recognizing these signs is the first step toward helping a child navigate school anxiety. Every child’s experience is unique, and finding a compassionate, personalized approach can make a significant difference. In the next section, we’ll explore the underlying reasons behind school refusal and how to address them with understanding and support.

The Reasons Behind Children with Autism  School Refusal Behavior

Some children may find it difficult to cope with the demands that the school environment can place on them. Parents and caregivers play a crucial role in identifying the root cause of school refusal and acting quickly to provide the right support, since this challenge rarely resolves itself on its own. Let’s take a look at some of the added pressures of the school environment and what your child could be experiencing.

• Your child may lack social skills, which could cause them to struggle to make and keep friends, leading to isolation and, unfortunately, even bullying.
• The school curriculum could be a bit difficult for them to cope with, especially if autism support in the school is limited or not available.
• Not all schools for children with autism have the right resources to fully support their needs, leading to challenges that contribute to school refusal.
• Navigating the school timetable and shifting between subjects or activities may be challenging.
• The sensory differences in the school environment could be overwhelming, such as noises, lighting, and smells.
• They might get into trouble with their teachers for unintentionally exhibiting inappropriate behavior or not respecting authority.
• Sudden shifts in routine or classroom structure can be difficult to process, causing heightened resistance to attending school.

Autism and School Refusal: How To Strategize With the School

Autism support in schools is needed to ensure that children with autism can thrive in the school environment. You can use your understanding of your child to identify coping strategies that can be used in schools. Here are some ways to strategize with the school:

• Make sure to utilize your child’s IEP (individualized education plan) to get the support needed. 
• Request the school to make some reasonable adjustments at the start and end of your child’s school day. For example, a staff member your child feels comfortable with could meet them at the school entrance.
• Ask the school if extra breaks could be allowed for your child throughout the school day. This will allow your child to redirect their attention and energy to different activities.
• Ask the school if they are willing to reward your child for some small improvements in achievement.
• Find out if autism support in the school for staff is an option. More autism awareness will ensure that your child’s needs are met.
• Be sure to set up a regular meeting with your primary contact at the school. This is often the teacher of record on their IEP but could also be the homeroom teacher, principal, counselor, or student support group.

Autism and School: Working on School Refusal Strategies At Home

Of course, there are also some practical strategies that you can implement at home:

• Acknowledge their emotions and show your child that you understand their feelings and anxiety about going to school.
• Make it clear and reassure them that things will be okay at home if their biggest fear is leaving home.
• Regularly remind your child about activities that can help them feel calm, such as using a fidget toy or practicing deep breathing.
• Set up a routine for the morning to set your child up for success for the day.
• Set a plan for reinforcement right when your child gets home to make a successful day a big deal.
• Help your child build transition skills for school by practicing routines and structured activities that mimic a classroom setting.

Lighthouse Autism Center Is Here to Help

At Lighthouse Autism Center, we aim to provide the highest-quality autism therapy, combining compassionate care and clinical excellence in a beautiful play-based environment. Contact us to find out about all our services, such as Lighthouse Fusion ABA therapy and so much more.bout all our services, such as Lighthouse Fusion ABA therapy and so much more! 

How Can Parents of Children with Autism Reduce Their Stress?

We often hear the phrase, “Parenting is the hardest job in the world.” Every day, your main concern is the safety, happiness, and well-being of your child. You work tirelessly to provide love, guidance, and support while trying to mold your children into the people they have the potential to grow up to be.

While parenting certainly has its incomparable upsides, there is no denying that it is also rife with challenges. Like anything in life, it’s a learning curve. And, when you’re learning how to parent a child with autism, these challenges can be even more demanding. Balancing therapy, education, and daily routines while managing your own stress can feel overwhelming at times.

Research has consistently shown that parents of children with autism tend to experience more stress compared to other groups of parents. In fact, the relationship between parenting and autism often results in higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress-related health issues.

Understanding and addressing parental stress is crucial for the well-being of both parents and their children. Let’s try to understand the most common stressors in parents, the effect stress has on both parents and children, as well as ways to reduce stress. 

Autism and Stress: Common Reasons for Stress in Parents

Parenting an child with autism increases stress levels beyond those of parents of typically developing children. When dealing with ASD, parents often become stressed by the need for constant vigilance, the financial burdens associated with therapy costs, sleep deprivation, and finding ways to manage challenging behaviors. The impact of this stress can extend beyond your individual well-being, affecting your marriage, personal relationships, work life, and parenting effectiveness.

Parental stress doesn’t just affect caregivers, either. Children with autism often thrive on routine, stability, and emotional regulation from those around them. So, when parents or caregivers are under a lot of stress, it can disrupt that sense of order, leading to increased anxiety, changes in behavior, and difficulty with emotional regulation for the child. Over time, this can make communication and progress in therapy more difficult, reinforcing cycles of frustration for both parent and child. So, it’s important to learn how to identify the triggers of your stress and find ways to manage it before it starts to affect other areas of your life.

Let’s take a closer look at these different stressors and the effect they have on parents. 

Psychological Stress

Taking care of a child with autism can increase the risk of psychological distress like depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues in a caregiver. The emotional toll of navigating daily responsibilities, advocating for an child with autism’s needs, and managing expectations can become overwhelming.

As a parent, your child’s needs tend to come first, but it’s important not to neglect what you need. Parents need to prioritize their own mental well-being and adopt methods to manage stress effectively. This can be done through developing healthy coping strategies, building up and relying on support networks, and practicing self-care, all of which play a big role in ensuring that both parents and children thrive in a balanced, nurturing environment.

Physical Stress

Chronic stress can have physical effects on parents of children with autism, making them more vulnerable to cardiovascular, immune system, and gastrointestinal issues. Research has shown that caregivers in these situations have higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol and biomarkers like CRP, which are linked to various physical illnesses. Fatigue and sleep difficulties may also be common, especially if the child struggles with sleep as well.

Social Stress

Autism spectrum disorder is often misunderstood by the general public, leading to blame or misunderstanding of a child’s behaviors. This can result in a stigma that isolates parents socially, causing them to withdraw from public gatherings and even strain relationships with friends and family. Marital stress may also be more prevalent in families with child with autism.

Financial Stress

Research suggests that parents of children with autism face financial challenges, such as lower income or reduced work hours, compared to other parents. Additional expenses related to ABA therapy costs, medical care, and childcare can add a significant financial burden. Some parents may even risk job instability due to frequent absences needed to care for their child. 

Tips for Stress Relief for Parents

Stress is an unavoidable part of parenting, but managing it effectively can make a huge difference in your well-being and your child’s growth. A few practical steps can help reduce your stress and build your resilience. Here are a few tips that could help you manage your stress:

Acceptance

One of the first steps toward reducing your stress is acceptance. Accepting that your child has autism and that it is not a disease to be “cured” or “fixed” can play a massive role in managing your expectations of both yourself and your child. Autism is part of who your child is, and every intervention moving forward should be based on that key understanding. Acceptance takes time, years for some, but it is an integral part of the success of your child and the overall family unit. 

It Takes a Village

Solid support systems are crucial for parents of children with autism. Don’t hesitate to lean on family members and close friends for help. Give them specific tasks to assist you. You don’t have to educate them about autism spectrum disorder yourself — direct them to resources where they can learn more. 

Additionally, the autism support groups often available at disability organizations, places of worship, schools, and community organizations can make a huge difference in managing your stress. Meeting other parents who understand what you’re going through can be a great support. They “get” the challenges and joys of raising a child with autism, and you can learn from each other’s experiences.

Focus On Reality and Not “What Ifs”

It’s natural to wonder what life would be like without autism, but dwelling on “what if” scenarios adds unnecessary stress. Focus on the present and embrace your child’s unique journey. Face uncertainties with a positive mindset. 

Ask yourself what your responsibilities are to your child and yourself in the present moment. By focusing on your child’s reality-based needs and what you can actually control, you can alleviate unnecessary stress.

Find Space for Yourself

When you feel overwhelmed by the various sources of stress as a parent of a child with autism, it can be helpful to start with small changes. Focus on getting enough sleep, incorporating regular exercise into your routine, and carving out some time for yourself. 

Even smaller changes — like slowing down your daily routine or drinking more water — can make a difference. 

For some, work can provide a break from caregiving for parents of children with autism, but it shouldn’t be the only reprieve. You need to have time and space outside of work where you can prioritize your emotional and physical well-being, pursue your interests, and nurture other relationships. 

Don’t let the fear of how your child will adjust to a new caregiver hold you back. Allowing your child to interact with other adults can be beneficial for both of you. Schedule respite care by hiring a babysitter, asking for help from family or friends, or exploring options like the Medicaid autism waiver. Use this time to rest, run errands, or do something that helps you relax.

Finding some time for yourself is essential. It can be as short as 15 or 20 minutes. Whether it’s quiet time while your child plays independently or trading caregiving responsibilities with your partner, prioritize moments of self-care. Taking care of yourself can have a positive impact on both your own well-being and your child’s functioning.

Emotional Regulation Is Key

As parents, we’re human and experience a range of emotions. Find healthy outlets to regulate your emotions, such as exercise, meditation, journaling, or engaging in activities you enjoy. These practices can help you manage stress and maintain emotional well-being.

Start Small and Mark the Wins

Recognize and celebrate both major and minor victories for you and your child. Acknowledging the positive aspects of your life can uplift your spirits and reduce stress. Share your wins with others and savor the progress you and your child make.

Find Professional Help

Don’t underestimate the value of professional help in managing your stress levels. If regular therapy or counseling is not feasible, there are still options available. Schedule an appointment with your primary care physician to ensure your physical health is in check. 

Disability or autism organizations, as well as your local school or hospital, can help connect you with support groups for caregivers of children with autism. These groups not only provide a listening ear but also offer valuable resources and information to reduce parenting stress.

Let Lighthouse Autism Center Support You and Your Child with Autism

Among the many autism resources available at the Lighthouse Autism Center are a host of autism parenting resources and strategies to help our parents raise their autistic children with empathy and effective care. Combined with our innovative Lighthouse Fusion ABA Therapy, parents are able to live happier and less stressful lives at home.

Developmental Preschool vs. ABA Therapy: Which Is Right for Your Child?

Whether it involves making cherished artwork or new friends, preschool is an exciting (and sometimes scary) time for children and parents alike. When your child reaches preschool age, you’ll need to consider the different available schools and programs for kids with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). When it comes to ASD and preschool, certain developmental goals need to be factored in to help you find the best approach. For example, ABA therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy all play a vital role in helping your child develop the necessary skills to be able to reach their full potential.

In this blog, we explore the main differences between school-based and center-based learning and development programs in order to help you decide on the best course of action for your child.

ABA Treatment Programs

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is an evidence-based therapy that has proven to be an effective and reliable method for developing and improving social, language, communication, learning, and daily living skills in autistic children. It consists of two major treatment methods: discrete trial training (DTT) and natural environment training (NET). DTT teaches target behaviors through simplified and structured steps (similar to a typical classroom setting), while NET focuses on learning through play and social interactions.

As part of an ABA treatment program, a therapist will evaluate your child’s skills, abilities, and challenges. They will then tailor an individualized program designed to maximize overall development and skill acquisition while decreasing problematic forms of behavior that impede learning. Another component of this intensive therapy is parent training, which has been found invaluable by parents who want to learn how to better engage, teach, and support their child.

While this is undoubtedly one of the most effective special education options for children with autism, working 1:1 with a therapist may not provide educational opportunities associated with a classroom setting.

Preschool Programs for Children with Disabilities (PPCD)

PPCDs are typically offered in a public school classroom under the supervision of a special education teacher and two educational associates. Classes usually consist of, at most, 12 children with a variety of special needs, ranging from moderate to severe.

During classes, children work on appropriate activities designed to develop and improve language, social, cognitive, and self-help skills.

This type of setting is highly conducive to socio-emotional development and affords children an opportunity to learn how to socialize with peers. When considering this approach, it is important to keep two things in mind. First, the setting must enable the child to catch up developmentally, and second, there will be limitations to the level of expertise of staff members compared to specially trained therapists. Additionally, school-based programs alone do not allow for the frequency or intensity of training and supervision essential for autism in early childhood development. This may make the addition of more intensive forms of therapy necessary in order to achieve appropriate preschool developmental milestones.

Combining ABA Therapy and Preschool

Both ABA therapy and PPCD can play a vital role in the development of autistic children. When you’re comparing the potential benefits of ABA therapy to those of PPCD, determining the learning environment that is best for your child will depend on their skill levels, needs, and a number of other factors. ABA may be the better choice if your child needs more structured, individualized support to develop foundational skills before entering a group setting. While a preschool for children with autism may be beneficial if your child is ready for social learning, it still requires a certain level of specialized instruction.

In many cases, a hybrid approach (a combination of the two approaches) can also provide a successful balance between structured skill-building and peer interaction. Balancing ABA therapy and preschool may mean focusing on ABA treatment first, for one or two years before transitioning into preschool, or even incorporating ABA therapy into your preschool schedule by choosing a part-time preschool schedule followed by part-time ABA sessions.

The Lighthouse Fusion® Approach

Fortunately, ABA therapy can be tailored to fit a wide range of needs for children with autism, making it easy to work into a therapeutic preschool program. To make things even easier, Lighthouse Fusion ABA therapy introduces an innovative approach that combines ABA and speech therapy into one enhanced therapy solution.

What sets Lighthouse Fusion apart is its integrated, collaborative approach. By incorporating speech therapy directly into daily ABA programs, children receive consistent reinforcement of communication and life skills throughout their learning process, accelerating language development, fostering stronger social interactions, and ensuring that therapy is fully embedded into natural, play-based activities.

Our team of Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA) and Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP) work collaboratively with your child and Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), ensuring a seamless, multidisciplinary approach to therapy. So, rather than only receiving 30 minutes of speech training a week, your child will benefit from daily opportunities for speech development, ultimately leading to better outcomes and more meaningful, lasting progress for your child.

Discover more helpful autism resources from Lighthouse Autism Center.

What are Lighthouse Learning Programs?

At Lighthouse Autism Center, we offer center-based ABA therapy in a natural, play-based environment designed to support each child’s growth and development. Following an assessment, a program is developed specifically to target each child’s unique needs, ensuring a customized learning experience that fosters greater independence, confidence, and real-world readiness.

With our Early Learner Program and Junior Learner Program, we incorporate foundational academic skills while maintaining the benefits of individualized ABA therapy.

Early Learner Program

Generally, this program supports learners between 18 months and 6 years of age and focuses on learning through play. The skills learners acquire through this program will provide the building blocks required for them to generalize what they have learned across different subjects and environments. In the Early Learner Program, children focus on:

• Fine and gross motor skills
• Letters, numbers, and colors
• 2D shapes
• Name and age
• Listening skills and following directions
• Developing new words through song, music, and reading
• Days of the week, months of the year, the weather, seasons, and more
• Participating in group classes like art, music, and gym

Junior Learner Program

Typically, this program includes learners 7 years and older and follows a similar structure to what a learner would see in a school setting. As the learner progresses through the program, they spend less time learning while playing and more time learning from an educator while sitting at a desk or in a group setting, similar to what the learner would experience at school.

In the Junior Learner Program, children focus on:

• Communication and listener responding skills at the appropriate level for the child
• Life skills like folding laundry, hanging clothes, sweeping, vacuuming, etc.
• Activities of daily living such as handwashing, teeth brushing, etc.
• Social skills, including peer-to-peer interactions in a group setting

School Readiness at Lighthouse

For a child with autism, transitioning into a school environment will take more than just academic preparation. Getting your child “school ready” is about fostering the practical skills that they will need to adapt to navigate daily interactions, adapt to (and follow) new routines, and build confidence in a structured learning environment.

At Lighthouse Autism Center, we focus on building these essential abilities through programs that encourage independence and social interaction. As children progress, they develop key skills that support a successful transition into a school environment, including:

• Interacting in a classroom
• Playing with peers
• Listening and following directions
• Participating in group classes
• Fine and gross motor skills
• Eating in a cafeteria-style lunchroom

A Guide to Elopement in Autism – Causes, Prevention & Safety

Elopement presents a major risk to your autistic child’s safety. Find out the causes of elopement, what prevention strategies to use, as well as how to plan for possible elopement.

Autism Elopement Prevention & Safety

When most of us think of the word “elope” we picture two people sneaking off to get married, often on a whim, without the traditional ceremony. However, in terms of autism care, elopement has a different meaning. In the context of autism and special education, elopement is when someone, often a child, who may require supervision, leaves a designated safe area or a responsible caregiver without permission or supervision. This can happen in schools, therapy centers, or even at home, and the consequences can be severe. While therapy centers and schools catering to autistic children will have stringent measures in place to prevent and deal with elopement, it’s important for parents and caregivers to understand the seriousness of preventative measures at home.

Why Knowing How To Deal with Elopement is Critical in Autism Care

Every parent’s main goal is keeping their child safe. But, when your child has been diagnosed with a developmental condition like autism, this goal can come with extra challenges. Wandering, or elopement, is one of these challenges. Autistic children are roughly four times more likely to leave a safe environment without permission than their allistic siblings. And, unfortunately, autistic children who elope often fall victim to harm through traffic accidents, drowning, falling, extreme weather, or even encounters with predators (human or otherwise). 

Nearly 50% of autistic children have eloped at some point in their lives, often with tragic consequences, and many parents are left in a constant state of anxiety.  When faced with such a terrifying prospect, it is no wonder that parents of autistic children can be tempted to employ extreme measures to protect their children without considering whether their interventions will be effective or not. 

According to the Organization for Autism Research (OAR), following their Safety Planning Cycle helps parents to constantly equip themselves and their children with the tools and skills to secure their child’s safety through prevention and planning.

Why Do Autistic Children Elope?

Firstly, it is important to understand why many autistic children elope. Autistic individuals tend to elope or wander due to factors like sensory overload, curiosity, or a desire to escape an uncomfortable situation. In their review of the assessment and treatment of elopement, Dr. Megan Boyle and Dr. Reesha Adamson of Missouri State University describe the four most common reasons for elopement as follows:

1. To get away from a place, activity, or person (escape)
2. To obtain access to an item, activity, or person
3. To engage in an intrinsically pleasurable activity, such as running
4. To gain attention

Understanding your child’s triggers makes prevention and safety much easier to manage. If it is not immediately apparent why your child elopes, consider keeping a log of every elopement, to help you identify trends.

Here are a few questions to guide what to log:

• What sequence of events preceded the elopement?
• Who was present?
• Can you remember any significant stimuli or obvious triggers?
• Where was your child going?
• What happened after the elopement?  

Once there is a fair understanding of the reason for elopement, parents need to develop an elopement prevention plan that anticipates these triggers and mitigates the need for elopement as a response. 

The elopement precaution and prevention plan may include some of the following interventions.

The Safety Planning Cycle

There are five basic steps in the Safety Planning Cycle:

1. Understand

What does your child need? What makes the child safe or unsafe in a particular situation? Where possible, engaging your child in the process can help you get valuable insights into their perspective and give them a sense of control and empowerment to be a part of their own safety plan. 

2. Prepare

What skills does your child need to practice in order to be safe? What resources do they need? What can be done to support your child? Parents might consider tools like GPS trackers for added security, visual schedules for predictability, or wearable ID tags for emergencies. We go into more detail on these measures later in the blog.

3. Practice

Once you’ve created your plan and identified the various tools and skills, implement them and find effective ways to reinforce them. For example, you can practice scenarios that mirror real-life situations, like safely crossing a busy street or responding to a change in routine.

4. Share

This is a key step towards securing your wandering child. Share your plan, skills, and tools with everyone entrusted with your child’s safety as well as those who form part of your support network. From school teachers to community safety personnel like police, firefighters, and EMS, the more people who are aware of your needs, the safer your child is.

5. Update

Work with your child to constantly assess the plan, tools, and skills. See what works and what doesn’t then revise and update the plan accordingly. As your child grows and gains new abilities or faces new environments, revisiting milestones and adapting the plan is crucial to keep it effective.

Behavior Modification

Elopement prevention for autistic children should go beyond ensuring a safe environment for your child. Remember that children who feel safe, who feel that they have a choice in their decisions, and who feel that all their physical and emotional needs are met, are far less likely to elope. 

So, to create a safe home for your autistic child, yYour prevention plan should therefore begin with behavioral interventions that reduce the need for your child to elope. These should also be supplemented with more practical interventions to inhibit them should they be overcome with the urge to run. ABA interventions for elopement are particularly effective, as they focus on understanding the functions of behavior and teaching alternative, safer responses to meet those needs.

A behavior intervention plan for preventing elopement should focus on addressing the triggers mentioned above. A key tool in this is to implement Functional Communication Training (FCT), a process of reinforcing alternative behaviors to elopement that meet the needs of the child as defined by the triggers. Here are a few FCT interventions that you can discuss with your professional support network to consider in your plan. 

Attention-Seeking

When it comes to autism and elopement, particularly in cases of a child seeking attention, parents should use visual aids to teach the child how to get their attention without running away. Parents, who are often the preferred person, should be the ones using visual aids to reinforce the alternative behavior. It might also help to give increased fun and exciting attention in spaces where you want your child to stay.  

Parents should avoid overly angry responses to elopement as this will reinforce the need for attention. Instead, provide positive reinforcement for all things you want your child to do, other than elopement.

Trying To Escape

First, try to identify what would trigger a child’s need to escape a particular situation. This could be overstimulation, change in environment, or even just a chaotic or noisy environment. 

Parents need to teach their children how to ask for a break from whatever the trigger is rather than elope. If they run anyway, it is important to bring them back safely and then review better strategies for escape in the future.

Once back, parents should adjust the task or change the environment to reduce the stress on the child by introducing breaks or moving to a quieter room. This should then be followed by positive reinforcement of getting back to the task. Again, meeting elopement with anger will trigger further elopement or in this circumstance, turn it into a game. 

Doing Something Pleasurable

Sometimes referred to as “automatic reinforcement or maintained behavior,” autistic children often elope simply to engage in something they enjoy doing, like running or feeling the breeze outside. 

In cases where automatic reinforcement is the trigger, parents need to provide more regular access to that activity in a controlled environment. This will reduce the impulse to elope to access it. For example, a child who loves running should have additional access to a gym or track with supervision. 

Desire to Access an Item, Person, Area, or Activity

Where the trigger is a desire to gain access to an item, person, area, or activity, parents need to teach their children how to ask for it or access it in a safer way. It is also important to establish a routine for access. Explain when they will get access and reinforce this by making absolutely sure that they get it on schedule. A break in routine will definitely encourage elopement. 

Teach Your Child Essential Skills

Here are some situational elopement strategies to prevent autistic children from wandering off, as well as ways to protect them should they succeed. 

Swimming

Swimming lessons for children with special needs can be difficult to find. The YMCA in many locations across the country offers this specialized service at affordable rates.

How To Navigate Traffic

Teach your child basic traffic navigation skills like what traffic lights mean, when and where to cross the road, and how to avoid moving vehicles. 

Stay With You in Public Spaces

Teach your child to understand the difference between walking and running. Reinforce holding hands or to walk within 6-12 inches of an accompanying adult as well as words like “go, walk, stop”. Reinforce things like staying by the cart in a grocery store, or keeping a hand on the cart in a parking lot.  

How To Communicate Contact Information

Verbal children can be taught to memorize parents’ phone numbers, addresses, and other critical information and should be taught how to provide the answers. This may be difficult or impossible for non-verbal children, so alternative means may be necessary in the form of an ID bracelet or card. Even in verbal children, this is a useful tool. 

Practical Interventions

Behavioral interventions will only go so far toward mitigating the underlying reasons for elopement. Skills are usually employed once in distress. There is even a risk of elopement in autistic children with low-support needs, which requires parents to take very practical steps to prevent a child from wandering off and to be in a state of readiness should the child elope. 

Create an Emergency Plan

There are many resources available with templates for an emergency plan in the case of elopement. This plan should include emergency contact information and a step-by-step guide on what to do should your child wander off. 

Your emergency plan should include things like a Google map of the area, a 911 emergency call script, highlights of dangerous areas like bodies of water and high-traffic zones, possible points of interest for your child, etc. 

You should have multiple copies of the plan stored in your home, car, office, school, etc. Be sure to share the plan with key people in your safety network like neighbors, schools, EMS, and others, especially if your child has a history of elopement in the past. 

Secure the Home

In instances where your child routinely wanders, you may need to consider securing your home with locks for your doors and windows, home alarms, printed STOP signs around the house, and even fencing off your yard. If possible, discuss these options with your local emergency responders to determine what is most appropriate, but also safe. 

Explore a Tracking Device

There are numerous wearable tracking devices that use different methods. Some use radio frequencies and triangulation, while others use GPS. Consider the right wearable for your child. Some may prove irritating and be removed. Many devices double up as elopement prevention devices by alerting parents when a child leaves a predetermined radius or location. 

ID Bracelets

Traditional medical ID bracelets will include your name, telephone number, and other important information. They may also state that your child has autism and is non-verbal, if applicable. If your child will not wear a bracelet or necklace, consider other means of ensuring that critical information is located on your child. 

Establish a Safety Network

Informing those around you and your child of your child’s vulnerabilities will go a long way to preventing wandering into extremely dangerous situations. 

Introduce Your Child to Your Neighbors

Creating a safety network starts with those in closest proximity. Introduce your child to the neighbors and try to establish a rapport where possible. Provide them with a picture of your child so they will recognize them. 

Introduce Your Child to First Responders

Providing first responders with key information before an incident occurs may improve response. Informational handouts should include all pertinent information and be copied and carried with caregivers at all times. Circulate the handout to family, neighbors, friends, co-workers, and first responders. See the tool kits below for resources to use to alert them.

Work With Your Child’s School

Ensure that your child’s school has a crisis plan in place in anticipation of possible wandering and elopement of autistic children. 

What To Do if Your Child Elopes

Should your child manage to elope, follow these steps to reduce the possibility of harm and ensure a speedy recovery. 

• Call 911.
• Locate your emergency plan and follow the action steps. 
• Alert first responders in your area and request an amber alert. 
• Explain to first responders that your child has autism and, if applicable, that their cognitive impairment makes them unaware of danger. Explain how they should interact with your child and what may trigger a flight response or paralysis. Give them suggestions of what to do and what not to do specific to your child’s needs.
• Request that your child’s information be immediately entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) Missing Person File. 
• Alert neighbors and enlist them to help search for your child. 
• Distribute prepared materials with the following details: child’s name, communication level, how to calm your child if they are distressed, a recent picture of your child, caregiver’s contact information, and places your child is likely to go to. Distribute this information to individuals in your search party as well as public authorities.

Lighthouse Autism Center

The Lighthouse Autism Center is the Midwest’s leading autism therapy institution, which also provides world-class autism resources and is the proprietor of their unique, ground-breaking Lighthouse Fusion ABA Therapy program, which fuses the best practices of ABA and speech therapy into a one-of-a-kind clinical model to deliver better outcomes for autistic children.

Learn About CPI Training

Parenting an autistic child is a learning experience, for both you and your child, and it comes with moments of uncertainty. We are, after all, only human. It’s only natural that, from time to time, communication falters, emotions escalate, and you’re left wondering how to bring calm back into the moments of chaos. These moments can be heart-wrenching, not just because of the immediate challenges, but because you want your child to feel safe, understood, and supported no matter what. Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) was created with this very goal in mind: to empower caregivers with tools to navigate these tough moments with compassion, build trust, and ensure your child’s dignity and emotional well-being remain at the forefront. 

What Is Crisis Prevention Intervention for Special Education?

Crisis Prevention Intervention is a training program designed to help educators and caregivers manage challenging behaviors in a safe and respectful manner. In the context of special education, particularly for autistic students, CPI in schools focuses on understanding the triggers of crises, preventing escalation, and responding effectively when challenging situations arise. 

At Lighthouse Autism Center, safety is our priority, and we take great pride in the safety precautions implemented at our centers to ensure a nurturing, secure environment where every child can learn, grow, and thrive. Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training is one of many safety precautions we use at all our centers. Every employee receives weeks of training and is certified in first aid, CPR, and CPI before beginning therapy with a child.

What Is CPI Training?

When we refer to CPI, we are also referring to an organization, the Crisis Prevention Institution. CPI teaches a strategy called Non-Violent Crisis Intervention. This strategy is used for crisis prevention for a wide variety of people, including those with autism spectrum disorders. Non-violent crisis intervention training is designed to teach best practices for managing difficult situations and disruptive behaviors. Behavior technicians or Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) learn how to identify at-risk individuals and use nonverbal and verbal techniques to defuse unsafe behavior. This type of training not only ensures the utmost safety of the children at our centers but also the safety of our staff.

The Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) is an international training organization that specializes in the safe management of disruptive and assaultive behavior. Since 1980, more than six million professionals have participated in CPI’s training, and thousands of organizations worldwide have successfully implemented CPI’s safe, non-harmful techniques and developed comprehensive crisis prevention and intervention plans. Only highly trained and certified CPI instructors are equipped to teach others CPI methods.

What Is a CPI Instructor?

A CPI instructor is someone who has gone through rigorous training through the CPI training organization and has been certified as an instructor. They are taught the tools and techniques to instruct and teach others to implement CPI strategies where needed. This certification requires regular re-training and active participation in training annually.

The Benefits of CPI at the Lighthouse Autism Center

Crisis prevention training and ABA Therapy (Applied Behavior Analysis) go hand-in-hand when it comes to supporting autistic individuals, with these strategies complement each other in addressing behavioral challenges. For example, if an autistic child exhibits aggressive behavior, CPI techniques can help manage the situation safely, while ABA principles guide the long-term approach to addressing the behavior. There are a huge number of benefits when it comes to using CPI strategies. These are the most notable. 

• Teaches staff to recognize and respond to a crisis appropriately: CPI teaches our staff imperative decision-making skills to effectively match their response to the level of risk in the crisis. They learn to focus on the least restrictive response to ensure crises are de-escalated with as little fuss as possible. They are taught how to recognize the different stages of an escalating crisis and how to use evidence-based techniques to de-escalate.
• Safe physical intervention as a last resort: Staff are trained to respond appropriately to the level of risk. Sometimes de-escalation strategies don’t work, and the risk requires physical intervention. CPI teaches staff the best physical intervention strategies to ensure as little trauma as possible and to be able to immediately begin pairing again with their learner.
• It’s fully accredited: CPI is an evidence-based training program that is also fully accredited. The training is reviewed bi-annually to ensure all interventions are up to international standards.

Why We Use CPI at Lighthouse Autism Center

CPI is an excellent non-violent crisis intervention strategy for a wide range of people. We find it aligns well with our practices for our learners mostly because it is so proactive and focuses on de-escalation strategies. Autistic people have unique personalities and behavioral characteristics, and the nature of autism means that there are some special circumstances to consider when employing CPI techniques with them. 

How CPI Is Implemented at the Lighthouse Autism Centers

Addressing behavior changes in autistic children proactively can help reduce the likelihood of crises. Here are just a few of the CPI strategies we use for autistic children:

Understanding How Autism Shows Up in Individual Children

Autism shows up in every person differently, and there is no such thing as one size fits all. Our staff works closely with a child’s parents, teachers, and other adults in their lives to learn about their specific anxiety signs and triggers. For example, some autistic children can clench their fists when they are happy or excited. Others do this when they are starting to feel anxious or frustrated.

It’s important to understand what triggers every child has. Do they like to be touched? Or should touching be avoided? Do they like schedules, and if so, what kind of schedules? What are their very favorite things? What has helped calm this child down in the past? You can see the other important questions that are asked in our Tips for Parents blog post. These types of questions allow our staff to intervene using the right type of support to avoid escalation.

Teaching Communication Skills

Autistic children struggle to verbalize their needs and wants, which often leads to frustration. Our staff finds out how the child tends to communicate when they ask for things. They will also teach the child how to ask for specific things that might not be tangible.

We will figure out the best system for the child, whether that’s verbal, sign language, or something in between. Teaching autistic children these skills is an excellent way to avoid crises and escalating frustration.

Safely Using Holds as a Last Resort

CPI strategies only use physical interventions as the very last resort and only when the child’s behavior is posing more risk to their own safety than any physical hold does. While none of us ever want to have to physically intervene, we are taught to safely and effectively use physical interventions with children in a way that reduces harm. Following any crisis, we also focus on repairing the relationship with our learners as soon as possible, going back to the fun and proactive interventions.

The Best Autism Treatment With Lighthouse Autism Center

At Lighthouse Autism Center, we believe that we can help every child reach their true potential with our innovative treatment approach to autism. CPI strategies are just one small facet of the incredible work that our staff do throughout our centers.
Don’t hesitate to contact us if you’d like to talk to someone about our treatments and how we can help your child.

Do Siblings of Autistic Children Suffer Increased Stress?

Every day, being a parent brings a new lesson about love, patience, and resilience and when you’re raising an autistic child, you’re exposed to even more unique joys and challenges. If you have more than one child, you have probably noticed the extraordinary bond that forms between your children – a bond shaped by understanding and adaptation. However, this bond can also come with its fair share of hurdles, some of which can go unnoticed by families, especially for the sibling of an autistic child. 

The bond between allistic (non-autistic) and autistic siblings is shaped by a number of factors, from their individual personalities to the family environment and the nature of their experiences together. And, while these sibling relationships are largely rooted in deep empathy, understanding, and support, they can also result in feelings of jealousy, guilt, or even resentment, usually due to the amount of attention an autistic child receives both at home and in social situations.

So, how can parents help their allistic children cope when they may feel overlooked, overwhelmed, or unsure of their place in the complex family dynamic? This blog explores the main challenges experienced by siblings of autistic children and how parents can support and nurture their entire family to ensure that their children grow into compassionate, balanced individuals. 

Autism and Siblings: What The Research Says

While sibling relationships are different in every family, growing up with an autistic sibling has its own unique challenges. According to a research paper on siblings of autistic children (The Quality of Life Among Siblings of Autistic Individuals: A Scoping Review), “non-autistic siblings of autistic individuals experienced decreased psychological well-being, less perceived social support, increased aggressiveness and conflict-proneness, and higher levels of anxiety and stress impacting their quality of life.” 

By understanding and addressing sibling stress, providing support, fostering open communication, and promoting self-care, we can create an environment that supports the well-being of all family members.  

Together, we can ensure that children not only cope but also thrive in their relationships with their autistic siblings, fostering a stronger and more inclusive family bond. Let’s delve into the main challenges faced by allistic siblings and explore some tips on how to help them cope with their autistic brothers and sisters. 

The Main Challenges of Having an Autistic Sibling

It is difficult to single out generic issues that affect families with an autistic child or children. It is especially complex when trying to understand the effects of autism on siblings, given that all families are different and all children within those families are different.  

For example, a younger sibling has always lived with autism in the family but may struggle to establish their own identity within the family dynamic, while an older sibling may resent the loss of attention to the autistic sibling who came later. Combined with the personalities and temperaments of each child, and even the nature of the autistic sibling, dynamics can vary considerably. However, it is important to be aware of the issues that can arise from the specific dynamic between allistic children and their autistic siblings.   

Here are some common issues that have been highlighted on how autism affects siblings. 

Family Dynamics

How a family responds to having an autistic child has a significant impact on allistic siblings. In some cases, when parents or guardians of an autistic child blame each other for the challenges it brings, it can lead to a separation or divorce.  

One guardian may end up with custody of both children and feel overwhelmed, angry, and frustrated. When the demands of autism become too much, this guardian might walk away or react with anger. As a result, the allistic child grows up in a chaotic environment, learning that challenges can strain family dynamics. This is one of the many reasons that it is so important to learn how to manage your stress as the parent of an autistic child. 

At a more practical level, the daily routines and dynamics of the family can be significantly impacted by the needs and demands of an autistic child. Siblings may have to adapt to changes in schedules, limited family outings, or altered family dynamics, which can create stress and a sense of imbalance. 

Embarrassment

Embarrassment is a tough challenge for siblings of autistic people, especially during childhood or adolescence. Children and teenagers often place a high value on the opinions of their peers, and when an autistic sibling displays behaviors that are perceived as “different,” such as stimming, sensory sensitivities, or trouble navigating societal norms, allistic children can start to worry about how their peers will react. Children can be judgmental and may make hurtful comments about their autistic siblings, which can amplify these feelings and leave them feeling conflicted between loyalty and love for their autistic brother or sister and their own desire for social acceptance. In response, they need to develop skills to support their autistic sibling and confront ableist bias as they grow older.  

Emotional Impact

Having an autistic sibling means the whole family has to make adjustments. Allistic siblings may experience a range of emotions, including confusion, frustration, embarrassment, or even guilt. They may feel a sense of responsibility or worry for their sibling’s well-being, especially in social situations or when witnessing their struggles. It’s really important to take care of the mental health of the children who aren’t autistic so they don’t develop feelings of resentment towards their autistic siblings.  

Often, they have to give in and make compromises. They may have to watch the same movie over and over again, leave a fun event earlier than they’d like, or even say “no” to throwing a big party, just to make sure their autistic sibling is comfortable. And as they get older, these siblings might realize that their parents have less time and money to help out with things like college, weddings, or buying a home. 

Great Expectations

Autistic siblings often require additional attention, support, and resources. This can lead to siblings feeling overlooked or neglected, as parental focus may be primarily directed toward meeting the needs of the autistic child.  

Even at a young age, siblings of autistic children are often expected to navigate their own emotions, take on additional household responsibilities, and put their own desires on hold. Independence at an early age is not uncommon, and comes with benefits, but also has its pitfalls. 

As they grow up, these siblings may find themselves shouldering even more responsibility for their autistic sibling, especially when it becomes challenging for their parents or guardians to manage everything. It’s a journey that requires understanding, compassion, and a willingness to lend a helping hand within the family unit. 

Communication and Relationship Differences

Siblings may find it challenging to establish typical sibling relationships due to differences in communication styles, social interactions, and play patterns. They may struggle to connect with their autistic sibling on a deeper level or face difficulties engaging in shared activities. Conversely, siblings may develop more of a parent/child relationship with their autistic sibling, which brings a different dynamic and feeling of increased responsibility at a young age.   

Financial Pressures

Money can play a significant role in the lives of families raising an autistic child. While it’s possible to navigate autism with limited financial resources, it can be incredibly challenging. Accessing resources, researching therapies, and attending appointments become harder for parents with hourly jobs or without internet access. 

And when those limited financial resources are primarily allocated to services for an autistic child, there may be little left for the needs of other children. College funds might be redirected to autism therapy, and additional expenses like fitting schools or respite care may require sacrifices. This can lead to resentment from allistic siblings towards both their guardians and their autistic sibling. 

Overwhelmed parents or guardians may lack the energy to assist with homework, coaching, transportation, or other typical caregiving activities. They may be unaware of school issues, emotional challenges, or potentially risky behaviors. 

The Strengths of Allistic and Autistic Sibling Relationships

There is no denying the challenges that come from the unique dynamics between autistic and allistic siblings, but that doesn’t mean that the relationship is always difficult. These sibling relationships often come hand-in-hand with unique strengths and beautiful, life-enriching experiences that shape who they are as people. From fostering empathy to developing advocacy skills, these connections can become a source of mutual growth and profound understanding. 

• Empathy and compassion: Allistic siblings often develop a heightened sense of empathy and understanding. Growing up with an autistic sibling gives them insight into different ways of thinking and being, nurturing a deep appreciation for diversity and the importance of kindness.
• Loyalty and unbreakable bonds: The shared experience of navigating the challenges and celebrating the victories of an autism diagnosis can forge a uniquely strong relationship between allistic and autistic siblings. 
• Advocacy skills: From an early age, allistic siblings often learn to advocate for their autistic brother or sister, especially in social or educational settings. This skill not only benefits their sibling but also prepares them to stand up for others and champion inclusivity in broader contexts.
• Teamwork and problem-solving: Navigating the dynamics of an autistic-allistic sibling relationship encourages creative problem-solving and teamwork. Finding ways to connect, communicate, and compromise strengthens their ability to work collaboratively in other areas of life.
• Celebration of uniqueness: In families where differences are embraced, siblings have the opportunity to celebrate and honor each other’s individuality. This strengthens the entire family dynamic and creates a foundation of acceptance and inclusivity.

Focusing on these strengths doesn’t negate the challenges, but it highlights the potential for profound connection and personal growth in allistic and autistic sibling relationships. The key is building on these strengths to create a nurturing environment where both siblings can thrive. By emphasizing open communication, shared activities that are safe for autistic children, and strong family support, we can ensure that these relationships blossom into a lifelong bond that celebrates the individuality of both siblings.

How to Help Children With Autistic Siblings Cope

While there is no one way to deal with the dynamics between siblings, there are a few tips on how to help your allistic child deal with their autistic siblings. 

Education and Communication

Providing children with age-appropriate information about autism can help them understand their brother or sister better. Open and honest communication within the family can foster empathy, reduce confusion, and promote understanding.  

Children may have misconceptions, such as thinking autism is contagious or caused by their own behavior. Discussing how autism affects their siblings specifically, helps children see them as a whole person with strengths and challenges.  

The first step to helping siblings understand autism is to start talking about autism when they begin to understand or notice differences. Adapt the conversation based on their age and understanding. Ask what they already know, use age-appropriate language, and be prepared to explain multiple times. Open communication fosters understanding and empathy among siblings, creating a supportive family environment. 

Individual Attention

Setting aside dedicated time for each child is crucial. It communicates that their feelings and experiences are valued and boosts their confidence and sense of belonging within the family. 

When allistic children have a positive self-perception, it can enhance their relationship with their autistic siblings.  

Create special moments by dedicating regular time each day to activities like bedtime stories or sharing positive moments. Additionally, listen attentively to your children’s thoughts and make time for enjoyable outings. Consider arranging trusted caregivers to look after the autistic child, allowing you to spend more quality time with their allistic siblings. 

Foster Positive Interactions

Siblings of autistic children often have positive feelings towards their brothers or sisters, but their relationships may not always be as close due to challenges in social communication.  

Encourage siblings to engage in activities that promote bonding and positive interactions. Finding common interests or creating structured activities that allow siblings to connect and have fun together can strengthen their relationship.  

For instance, engaging in shared interests like playing with trains or participating in basketball can create opportunities for inclusive play and enjoyable interactions among siblings. Finding common ground and promoting inclusive activities can strengthen sibling relationships and create lasting memories. 

Seek Professional Support

Consider involving therapists or counselors who specialize in supporting families with autistic children. They can provide guidance, strategies, and emotional support to both parents and siblings.  

There are also various organizations available to provide support for siblings of autistic children, such as Siblings of Autism, the Sibling Support Project, and Sibs Journey.  

These organizations offer valuable resources and assistance. Additionally, it is beneficial to explore the local resources available in your area, such as autistic sibling support groups,  respite care services, and specialized programs specifically designed to support allistic siblings.  

Mental Well-Being and Self-Care for Siblings

It is essential to prioritize the well-being of siblings. Encourage them to engage in self-care activities, such as hobbies, sports, or spending time with friends, to help alleviate stress and promote their overall mental and emotional well-being. 

It’s also important to be attentive to your allistic children’s feelings and validate them. When your child expresses frustration, acknowledge their emotions. Often siblings feel guilty communicating their frustrations with their autistic siblings, especially to their parents, because they know you are also overwhelmed. Engage in open conversations with your children about their feelings in a non-judgmental manner.   

Collaborate with your children to find positive ways to channel their emotions, such as drawing or painting. By sharing your own feelings, you help your allistic children realize that their emotions are normal. 

Manage the Children Fairly

Ensuring fairness among your children is crucial, and establishing clear family rules can help achieve this. Strive to create family rules that are fair and consistent for all your children whenever possible and implement strategies that encourage positive behavior in all your children. 

Avoid accepting aggressive or hurtful behavior from your autistic child if you wouldn’t tolerate it from your other children. Encourage all of your children to contribute to family life; sharing responsibilities within the home fosters unity and imparts essential independence skills. Tailor tasks and chores to accommodate your children’s diverse ages and strengths. 

Grow Together With Lighthouse Autism Center

Among the many autism resources available at Lighthouse Autism Center is a large community of families who deal with the dynamics and challenges laid out in this blog. Join them in their pursuit of fostering better sibling relationships through treatments like LAC’s innovative Lighthouse Fusion ABA Therapy to help their autistic children better navigate family life.  

Understanding and managing changes in behavior is essential for caregivers of autistic children. By identifying triggers and implementing effective strategies, such as ABA therapy and positive reinforcement, you can help autistic children learn to identify their triggers, self-regulate, and thrive.

Causes of Behavioral Changes in Autistic Children

It’s unreasonable to expect a child to be happy and well-behaved all the time. Every child needs to be given the freedom to feel, express, and understand their emotions; it’s a part of growing up. So, from time to time, outbursts or moments of disobedience are bound to happen. When you’re raising an autistic child, however, these instances tend to happen a lot more frequently. 

Knowing what is causing these sudden changes in behavior and finding the best ways to manage them can make the at-home situation a lot more enjoyable for everyone involved. It can also give your child valuable coping skills to take out into the world. 

This blog explores how you can identify your autistic child’s triggers, implement effective strategies to minimize them (such as ABA therapy and positive reinforcement), and how these measures can help your child learn how to spot their own triggers, self-regulate, and thrive in their daily life. 

Examples of Challenging Behavior from Autistic Children

The reason autism is considered a spectrum disorder is that it encompasses a wide range of symptoms and behaviors that can vary greatly from one individual to another. Every autistic child is unique, and so are their behaviors, strengths, and challenges. 

Challenging behaviors in autistic children often arise as a means of communication, coping mechanism, or response to environmental factors. So, it’s important to remember that these behaviors are not always intentional acts of defiance from your child but rather expressions of unmet needs or difficulties in communicating their feelings or processing the world around them.

Autistic children may exhibit a range of challenging behaviors that can vary in frequency and intensity. While the specific behaviors can differ from child to child, some common examples include:

• Tantrums and meltdowns: Intense emotional outbursts, often in response to sensory overload, changes in routine, or frustration due to communication difficulties. 
• Stimming: Self-stimulatory behaviors, or stimming, are repetitive actions such as hand-flapping, rocking, or spinning that help autistic children self-soothe. These behaviors are usually harmless, but they can interfere with your child’s ability to engage with others or focus on specific tasks. 
• Aggression: It’s not uncommon for autistic children to exhibit aggressive behaviors, such as hitting, biting, or scratching, as a way of expressing discomfort, frustration, or pain. 
• Self-injury: If an autistic child is feeling overwhelmed or overstimulated and unable to communicate their needs effectively, it can result in them turning their aggression inward and engaging in harmful behaviors like head-banging, biting, or scratching themselves. 
• Withdrawal: Social situations can be difficult for autistic children, so many of them have a tendency to withdraw from social interactions. They prefer to be alone, so they isolate or avoid eye contact and physical touch, making it challenging to build relationships and engage in social activities.

Understanding the link between autism and behavior issues and taking the time to identify what is triggering them in your child is the first step in developing strategies and techniques that can help you support and nurture them. Recognizing that these behavioral changes are often a form of communication — or rather frustration due to difficulty communicating — can help you approach them with empathy and patience.

What Are Some Causes of Behavioral Change in Autistic Children?

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental condition that affects how people communicate, interact with others, perceive themselves, and interpret the world around them. Autistic adults and children often experience heightened sensory sensitivities, process information differently, and approach social interactions more cognitively than intuitively. 

For children with ASD, sudden behavior changes can be triggered by sensory overload, changes in their daily routine as well as certain medical conditions. By understanding what the potential triggers are, caregivers can effectively implement strategies to manage behavior and support their autistic child through challenging moments. 

What Triggers Behavioral Changes in Autistic Children?

The behavior of autistic children can vary widely, as each child’s experience exists on the broad behavioral spectrum of autism. However, there are certain factors that can commonly trigger changes in behavior. 

1. Sensory Issues

Sensory processing issues are common among most autistic children. They may be highly sensitive (hypersensitive) or under-responsive (hyposensitive) to light, sound, taste, touch, and smell. 

For example, a child can become overwhelmed in a crowded, bright, and noisy environment, resulting in a meltdown or shutdown. Or, they may seek intense sensory experiences, like spinning or rocking, in order to self-regulate. These sensory differences can significantly affect their emotional state and how they behave.  

2. Changes in Routine

Autistic children often thrive on predictability and routine. This means that they do best when they know what to expect day to day. Any changes, sometimes even minor ones, to their daily schedules or environment can be distressing and lead to behavioral changes. 

3. Medical Conditions

Some autistic children may have specific underlying medical conditions that contribute to behavioral changes. For instance, gastrointestinal issues, allergies, or sleep disorders may cause discomfort and impact their behavior negatively. 

4. Communication Difficulties

Communication difficulties can also be a great challenge for some autistic children. They may have difficulty understanding or using language. They could even struggle to focus and communicate effectively due to the sensory issues discussed above. Understandably, not being able to communicate can lead to frustration and result in challenging behaviors, such as self-injury, tantrums, and aggression. 

5. Social Challenges

Social challenges can also be a source of stress and the cause of behavioral issues for autistic children, since they may have difficulty understanding subtle social cues, micro-expressions, and emotions, as well as any form of nonverbal communication. These challenges can be incredibly frustrating and isolating for the child.  

In social settings, autistic children may engage in repetitive or self-stimulatory behaviors as a coping mechanism. They may also withdraw from social interaction altogether to avoid the complex and uncomfortable dance of human interaction. 

Recognizing Triggers

Recognizing triggers is the key to effectively managing the behavioral health of autistic children. Caregivers should pay close attention and take note of any specific circumstances or events that precede unhealthy, inappropriate, or challenging behaviors.  

Once the potential triggers have been identified, caregivers and parents can work on creating tailored strategies to minimize or avoid those behaviors and responses altogether, as well as teach new skills to support their child. 

Effective Strategies for Managing Behavioral Changes

Dealing with sudden behavior changes in autistic children calls for a holistic approach, one that considers the context, unique needs, and challenges of that particular child.  

As caregivers face inappropriate or challenging behaviors, having the right strategies becomes crucial when supporting the child’s development and well-being. 

Positive Behavior Support

Positive Behavior Support, or PBS, is a systematic approach to managing behavior that focuses on reinforcing positive behaviors and teaching new skills. PBS can be highly effective in reducing challenging behaviors and improving the child’s ability to function effectively. 

Visual Schedules

Visual schedules can help ground children in predictability by creating structure. This helps to reduce anxiety and prevent potential meltdowns. Creating a visual schedule can be as simple as a picture chart that shows the child what activities they will be doing throughout the day or more complex, such as a digital schedule that shows the child the time and location of each activity. 

Sensory Breaks

Sensory breaks can provide autistic children with a healthy way to self-regulate and calm down when they’re feeling overwhelmed and overstimulated. Sensory breaks can include activities such as listening to music, doing breathing exercises, or simply sitting in a peaceful place. Sensory supports are often recommended following an Occupational Therapist’s evaluation.  

Applied Behavior Analysis

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is a highly effective intervention for addressing skills deficits and socially impactful behaviors of people, including children with autism. It focuses on reinforcing positive behaviors and teaching new skills. ABA programs also incorporate aspects of PBS and parent training.   

Caregiver and Parent Training

Training caregivers and parents of autistic children can be critical to managing behavioral changes and issues in these children because it can teach caregivers how to use the appropriate strategies to manage their child’s behavior. Importantly, it also provides much-needed support and resources to help guardians and caregivers cope with the complexities of raising an autistic child in a neurotypical world. 

Managing Autism and Sudden Behavior Changes With the Lighthouse Autism Center

For parents and caregivers, sudden behavior changes in their autistic children can be distressing. However, by learning how to deal with autism and behavior challenges effectively, they can profoundly affect the well-being of their autistic child. 

LAC’s innovative Lighthouse Fusion ABA Therapy, along with its extensive archive, offers valuable autism resources for parents and caregivers of autistic children. Armed with knowledge and tailored strategies, caregivers can create a nurturing and supportive environment that fosters growth and empowers their autistic child to thrive.

Creating a safe home for an autistic child is essential. We look at some of the safety and security considerations and other tips for making a safe home.

Tips for Child-Proofing and Keeping Your House Safe for an Autistic Child

Household safety is one of the primary concerns of all parents. This concern tends to escalate when babies start to crawl around the house, and baby-proofing the home becomes a priority for parents.  

Home safety for an autistic child comes with the same concerns. However, unique risks also mean that typical house safety concerns can become more serious, based on your child’s individual nature. 

In this article, we are going to look at the unique challenges in creating an autism-friendly house, why autistic children may need extra home security, and how to appropriately child-proof your home for your autistic child. 

Why Is Child-Proofing the Home a Challenge for Autistic Children?

When you’re researching tips for ASD, you’ll notice that safety is always a focal point. While all parents are constantly working to make sure that their children are cared for and safe, ensuring the safety of your autistic child at home requires a few additional steps and special considerations. 

Child-proofing can be particularly challenging for parents or caregivers with an autistic child. Autistic children tend to fixate on certain items or display sensory-seeking behaviors. They could fixate on a dangerous item, or their fixation could simply leave them unaware of the possible dangers around them. Additionally, some autistic children have a propensity to try to elope or run from their homes on a regular basis for a variety of reasons. 

As a result of this, typical safe-proofing concerns can become more serious depending on what your child is interested in. Some of the biggest concerns can include: 

• Sensory fixation on water, fire, fans, or other items. 
• Accessing dangerous items like medications, sharp objects, chemicals, and electrical outlets. 
• Climbing on furniture and then jumping, falling, or having the furniture fall on them. 
• Leaving the house through a window or door without someone knowing. 

Even with these challenges, creating an autism-friendly home can be a simple and extremely beneficial process if you know what to do. 

Make Home a Safe Space

All of the best safety precautions and autism decorating ideas in the world aren’t going to matter if the environment your child is in doesn’t feel safe, too. It’s important to foster a calm environment at home so everyone feels comfortable and relaxed. This can significantly reduce instances of overstimulation, anxiety, or disruptive behavior. A few ways you can do this are:

1. De-Clutter

Start by minimizing clutter as much as possible. Try to keep surfaces clear and organized, and use storage solutions to keep any toys, books, and other items out of sight when they are not in use. A clutter-free space is less likely to cause a sensory overload.

2. Use Calming Colors

Colors can profoundly affect our emotions and behaviors. Certain colors can be particularly soothing or stimulating for autistic children. To create a peaceful atmosphere, try incorporating soft, neutral tones like pastels, blues, greens, and earthy shades into your home. While you’re doing this, make sure you involve your child in the decoration choices. This can help them feel more in control of the situation and can give you a better idea of what colors they like or don’t like. 

3. Incorporate Natural Elements

Introduce elements of nature into your home, such as potted plants, natural light, and nature-inspired decor. Nature has a way of grounding us, so these elements can have a calming effect and help create a soothing environment.

4. Create a Sense of Calm With Soft Lighting

Try to avoid harsh, bright lights. Instead, use soft, diffused lighting with dimmer switches or lamps. You could even consider using string lights or salt lamps for a gentle, calming glow. Some calming music can also be a great way to help your child relax and refocus.

5. Incorporate Familiarity

Make sure to keep your child’s favorite toys, blankets, and other comfort items easily accessible. Familiar objects can provide a sense of security and comfort in your child’s environment. Having access to familiar items can help your child feel more at ease and provide a sense of stability in their surroundings.

Use Home Safety as a Learning Opportunity

The first step to creating a safe environment for an autistic child is to use your home as a learning environment. While removing your child from dangerous situations is important, it’s also a good idea to teach them home safety like you would any other skill.  

Use positive reinforcement when your child performs a home safety skill correctly or when they refrain from doing something that you’ve taught them is unsafe. Remember to keep home safety steps short and simple. 

You can use the usual tools that would be used in a therapy session or when teaching them skills at home, such as visual rules, checklists, signs, stories, and schedules. Choose whatever it is that your child has had success with in other settings in the past.  

Some ideas for ASD-friendly elements in your home include: 

Label Everyday Items

When you want to child-proof a home for an autistic child, using visual aids like photos, words, colors, and textures to label everyday appliances, furniture, rooms, drawers, etc., can be very beneficial. Labels will help your child to more easily associate the items with where they go or what their purpose is. Labels also increase the likelihood of your child using something for its intended purpose and discourage unsafe behaviors. 

Create Visual Boundaries and Limits

Telling your child not to walk out the front door isn’t always enough. Using visuals can help you relay the message more clearly. For example, you could place stop signs on doors that lead outside or to stairs or on drawers that they shouldn’t open. Or you could mark the floor around hazardous furniture with painter’s tape to show the areas where they shouldn’t walk. 

Keep Things Organized and in place

Autistic children are often creatures of habit and structure. Keeping things tidy and in their place means children will know where to find things and where to put them once they are done. This will lead to less frustration, thereby reducing outbursts and making them less likely to engage in unsafe or disruptive behaviors. 

Home Modifications for Autistic Children

If you’re wondering how to make your home autism-friendly, here are some of the modifications that you can make:  

• Move furniture away from where kids could climb it. Instead, invest in sensory-appropriate climbing furniture products to encourage safer behaviors.  
• Ensure that all furniture is mounted to the floor or wall. 
• Use gates and barriers at the top and bottom of stairs to keep your children from climbing them or potentially falling down them. 
• Put all medications and unsafe items out of reach. 
• Put rubber bumpers on the sharp edges of counters or furniture. 
• Hide wires or place them out of reach. 
• Lock away cleaning supplies, toiletries, and other products that contain hazardous chemicals. 
• Educate your child about fire safety through stories about smoke detectors and safety routines. Lock away all matches and lighters. 
• Put covers on electrical outlets and protection on door knobs, cabinet handles, faucets, etc. 
• Add sensors to areas that your child should not be in, so you are aware of where they are in your home. 

Home Security

As mentioned, some autistic children are known to try to wander off and leave their houses, so home security is another aspect to consider if you have an autistic child. This can include: 

Install Locks and Sensors

Install locks or sensors on the home’s doors, windows, and cabinets. Autistic children are resourceful, so investing in a high-quality locking system is worth it. It is even possible to get special autism safety door locks. 

Safely Store Away Potentially Hazardous Items

Lock and store potential hazards like paint, fertilizer, and cleaners somewhere out of your child’s day-to-day environment, such as the garage or basement. 

Install Sensory-Friendly Alarms

Install alarms on their bedroom door, doors leading outside, and windows. Of course, keep in mind that a blaring alarm could be intolerable for a child with sensory issues. Usually, the alarm can be tailored to your child’s specific needs. 

Explain “Stranger Danger”

Chances are that your child will open the door when it rings at some stage in their life. It’s important to teach them the importance of learning who they can trust and the dangers of opening the door to strangers. Allistic (non-autistic) children are more likely to be able to read people’s intentions, whereas autistic children tend to be naturally trusting. This is an important lesson they can take into adulthood, too. 

Always Have An Emergency Plan in Place

It’s critical that you have an emergency plan in place should something happen. The first port of call should always be to phone 911 and alert the appropriate authorities. All of the relevant emergency numbers should also be easily accessible. Display them in an easy-to-reach area and keep them on hand around your house and in your vehicles. Providing your child a safety bracelet with their name and emergency contact details may also be useful. If they do not like the feeling of a bracelet, then provide a laminated card with emergency contact numbers for them to keep at all times or label each piece of their clothing with the same information. 

If your child has a history of elopement or unsafe behaviors in the home, contact your local police department so they know who your child is, where you live, what your child might do, and where they might go based on past experiences. It is always easier to communicate this information proactively, rather than in a crisis situation.  

Create a Quiet Space for Your Autistic Child at Home

When you’re creating a home for an autistic child, remember that they are more likely to act out when they become overstimulated. When this happens, they will need a safe time-out space to calm down and refocus. 

Instead of punishing them with a time-out in a corner, create a dedicated quiet space where they can go to have time to themselves, enjoy a moment of peace and quiet, or engage in whatever self-soothing strategies work for them. If you continually direct them to this space when they get overstimulated, you teach them a better way to cope with and handle stress. Make the space soft, neutral, and welcoming with your child’s favorite toys. 

Get the Best for You and Your Child with LAC

At Lighthouse Autism Center, we equip our learners and their caretakers with the tools and strategies needed to enhance growth and development through our Lighthouse fusion ABA therapy. We also offer a wide array of the best autism resources and information for our clients to turn to in order to help your child take the important next step in their journey. or our clients to turn to and help your child take the important next step in their journey. 

Handling inappropriate behavior from autistic children can be challenging, especially in public settings. With the right strategies and understanding, it’s possible to effectively manage and address these behaviors in a way that supports the child’s needs and promotes their well-being.

How To Handle Socially Inappropriate Behavior in Public

Growing up, we are all taught what behavior is suitable for a public setting and what behavior isn’t. Proper manners, polite communication, and understanding social cues are ingrained in us from an early age. We’re told to say “please” and “thank you,” to wait our turns, to be mindful of others’ feelings, and we learn what behaviors are socially acceptable and which aren’t. While for allistic people, these lessons seem straightforward and soon become second nature, for autistic children, these seemingly straightforward expectations can become complex challenges. 

Autistic children experience the world differently. They are more sensitive to sensory input like loud noises, bright lights, and crowded spaces, and communication can often be a challenge. So, instances like outbursts or socially inappropriate behavior are common because their ways of coping with overwhelming situations are different. Even as caregivers, it is often difficult to differentiate between common autistic behaviors and misbehavior. 

With the right strategies and understanding of autistic behavior, challenging behaviors can be effectively identified, addressed, and managed. This guide will provide practical tips for parents, caregivers, and educators on navigating and supporting autistic children in public settings. 

Understanding Autism and Inappropriate Behavior

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social communication challenges, sensory sensitivities, and repetitive behaviors. Socially inappropriate behavior in autistic children may manifest in various forms. Some examples of inappropriate behavior include meltdowns, self-stimulatory behaviors, aggression, and non-compliance. It is essential to recognize that these behaviors are often communication tools used by the child to express their needs, discomfort, or anxiety and are not just naughtiness or misbehavior. 

Being able to recognize that these behaviors are often rooted in your child’s desire to communicate something to you can help you respond to these behaviors with more understanding, empathy, and patience. It shifts the perspective from viewing the behavior as a problem to understanding it as a signal that your child needs support. This not only makes dealing with challenging behavior more manageable in the moment but can help you identify common triggers.

When you understand what is causing the socially inappropriate behavior and respond with empathy and effective strategies, you can create a more supportive environment for your child to experience the world. Early intervention and consistent support can also significantly improve your child’s ability to navigate social situations and reduce the frequency and intensity of inappropriate behaviors in the future. 

Unique Challenges Faced by Autistic Children in Public Settings

Public settings can be overwhelming for an autistic child with behavioral problems due to sensory overload, unpredictable social interactions, and rigid expectations. These challenges can lead to heightened anxiety and an increased likelihood of exhibiting inappropriate social behaviors. It is crucial to consider these factors when addressing and managing their behavior. 

Here are some of the key challenges faced by autistic children. 

Sensory Overload

Public places can be overwhelming for autistic children due to increased sensory stimuli, such as loud noises, bright lights, crowded spaces, and unfamiliar smells. These sensory inputs can lead to sensory overload and trigger anxiety or meltdowns. 

Communication Barriers

Autistic children may have challenges with expressive and receptive communication skills. In public settings, they may struggle to express their needs, desires, or discomfort, leading to frustration or misunderstandings. There is also a link between autism and saying inappropriate things because they may not fully grasp social norms or the nuances of language.

Social Interactions

Engaging in social interactions can be challenging for autistic children. They may find it difficult to interpret social cues, understand non-verbal communication, or initiate and maintain conversations. This can result in feelings of isolation or difficulty making friends. 

Unpredictability and Changes

Public settings often involve unpredictable situations, such as unexpected changes in routines, transitions, or disruptions in the environment. Autistic children rely on structure and predictability, so these unexpected changes can cause anxiety and distress. 

Sensory Seeking or Avoidance Behaviors

Autistic children may exhibit sensory seeking or avoidance behaviors in public settings. Some may seek sensory input by engaging in repetitive movements or self-stimulatory (stimming) behaviors, while others may try to avoid certain sensory experiences by covering their ears, avoiding touch, or withdrawing from the environment. 

Lack of Understanding and Acceptance

The general public may not always understand or be accepting of autistic behavior. This can lead to judgment, stares, or comments from others, creating a challenging and potentially uncomfortable environment for both the child and their caregivers. 

Practical Strategies for Addressing Inappropriate Behavior

Handling autism and bad behavior requires patience, understanding, and a proactive approach. Here are some practical tips on how to prepare for, deal with, and avoid future socially inappropriate public behavior.  

Identify Triggers

Observe when and where challenging behaviors are most likely to occur. Recognize specific people, locations, times of the day, or sensory experiences that may contribute to the behaviors. Provide appropriate sensory tools or strategies, such as noise-canceling headphones or sensory breaks, to help them regulate their sensory input and prevent sensory overload. 

Teach Skills in Controlled Environments

Take advantage of situations outside of public settings to teach and reinforce socially appropriate behavior skills. Practice walking together, waiting in line, sharing toys, or tolerating transitions when demands are minimal. 

Communication and Social Skills Training

Teach the child alternative ways to express their needs and emotions through effective communication strategies. Social skills training can help them navigate social interactions more smoothly. 

Establish Clear Expectations

Set clear and consistent rules and routines, using visual supports such as visual schedules, videos, or social stories, to help the child understand what is expected of them in public settings. Visual cues can help individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) understand expectations and provide a sense of structure and predictability. 

Prepare for Outings

Plan ahead by researching unfamiliar locations and communicating with staff or facility personnel about specific needs or challenges. Familiarize the individual with the environment through virtual tours, pictures, or videos. 

Gradual Exposure

Begin with short trips or visits to help the individual become familiar with new environments and social interactions. Bring along preferred toys or activities to provide comfort and enjoyment during outings. 

Incorporate Breaks and Sensory Regulation

Individuals with ASD may benefit from taking breaks or finding a calm space when engaging in activities outside their comfort zone. Establish a communication system to indicate the need for breaks or assistance. 

Redirect and Distract

If socially inappropriate behavior arises, gently redirect the child’s attention to a more appropriate activity or provide them with a sensory tool or object that can help redirect their focus. 

Stay Calm and Supportive

Knowing how to reduce aggressive behavior in an autistic child can be particularly difficult in the moment. Respond to challenging behaviors with patience and understanding. Remaining calm can help de-escalate the situation. Find a safe and quiet space if necessary, and consider involving supportive family members or friends for assistance. 

Calming Strategies

Teach the child calming techniques, such as deep breathing exercises or self-soothing strategies, to help them regulate their emotions and manage anxiety in public settings. 

Reinforcement and Positive Behavior Support

Implement a system of positive reinforcement to encourage appropriate behavior. Use praise, rewards, or a token system to reinforce desired behaviors, providing motivation and encouragement for the child. 

Advocate and Educate

Educate others about autism and the challenges faced by autistic children in public settings. Raise awareness by carrying a card explaining autism-related behaviors to share with others who may not understand. This can promote understanding and reduce potential misunderstandings or judgment. 

Seek Professional Support

Collaborate with professionals, such as behavioral therapists or occupational therapists, who can provide additional guidance and strategies tailored to the child’s specific needs. 

Collaborate with Lighthouse Autism Center

It is essential to remember that each autistic child is unique, and strategies should be tailored to their individual needs. LAC’s innovative Lighthouse Fusion ABA Therapy, combined with its large archive of autism resources, is the perfect foundation on which to build an understanding of your autistic child’s needs. 

After an autism diagnosis, choosing the right ABA therapy center can feel overwhelming. This parent-focused guide breaks down what truly matters in quality autism care, helping you confidently evaluate ABA centers and make an informed decision about your child’s therapy.

Tips on How To Find the Best ABA Center for Your Autistic Child

If your child has received an autism diagnosis, you likely have countless questions about the best ways to support their development. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is one of the most commonly used, and widely recognized, therapeutic interventions for autistic people and those with other developmental challenges. It is based on the principles of behaviorism, so this approach uses positive reinforcement to encourage good behavior and introduces consequences to reduce challenging behaviors. 

Endorsed by medical professionals, including the U.S. Surgeon General, ABA therapy has helped countless families navigate their autism journey. But, to get the most out of this intervention, parents need to make sure they’re choosing the right center for autism and related disorders. 

Why ABA Therapy?

ABA services for autism are not a one-size-fits-all approach. Each plan is uniquely built around your child and the best approach for them. The process starts with an in-depth assessment by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), who will take the time to learn about who your child is, their abilities, their challenges, and your family’s goals. Based on this assessment, they will then create a personalized treatment plan that changes and grows with your child. 

This approach is backed by science, but an important factor that helps make it so effective is collaboration. Your BCBA doesn’t work in isolation; they work with you, your family, your child’s teachers, and other support systems to help your child develop skills that can make a real difference in their everyday life. Whether it’s communicating better, building friendships, learning proper hygiene and self-care practices, or gaining more independence with daily tasks. 

This therapy also focuses on reducing challenging behaviors while promoting positive ones, all while adapting the approach to what works best for your child. If you’re considering ABA therapy for your child, choosing the right center is crucial for their success. Let’s explore what you should look for when you’re trying to find the best ABA therapy center.

 

Credentials and Certifications

This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s extremely important to make sure that the people running the ABA program you’re looking into are properly certified. Two of the main certifications you should be looking out for are Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs). These credentials aren’t just fancy titles. They reflect years of education, rigorous training, and practical, hands-on experience that will be needed to develop and implement an effective treatment plan and help your child thrive. 

Your child’s progress depends heavily on having qualified ABA providers and medical professionals overseeing their care. A BCBA should be actively involved in developing and supervising your child’s treatment plan from day one. They’ll work closely with RBTs, who provide the day-to-day therapy under their supervision. It’s also worth asking how many cases your BCBA manages. They can be the best practitioner in the world, but it won’t help as much if they don’t have enough time to give your child’s program the attention it deserves.

Don’t hesitate to ask about the qualifications of everyone who will be working with your child. Quality ABA centers are always happy to share information about their team’s credentials and ongoing training programs. After all, your child’s development is too important to leave in the hands of any who are less than fully qualified professionals.

Customized Therapy Programs

No two children are exactly the same, right? Since this is true, it makes sense that no two children will have exactly the same therapy needs. They will have different behavior problems and will be behind in different developmental milestones. Therefore, ABA centers should never offer cookie-cutter therapy programs.

In designing an autism therapy program, the ABA center should perform a deep assessment of your child’s needs. An analysis of your child’s current skills will be produced from this assessment. Then, a board-certified professional will design a therapy program tailored to your child and their current skills. Additionally, the ABA center should be asking for parental input in the initial and ongoing assessment. Parents add value to the assessment by providing information about behaviors the child is showing and skills they are lacking. This is also a chance for parents to communicate the goals they have for their child. Goals can range from basic life skills like toilet training to more sophisticated skills like vocal communication.

Any worthwhile ABA center should be willing to create a unique therapy program to meet your child’s and family’s needs.

Formal Assessment Tools

Formal assessment tools, such as the VB-MAPP and AFLS should be used to evaluate the skill sets of an individual diagnosed with autism. They should be part of the foundation and structure of any great ABA curriculum.

The VB-MAPP is an assessment tool used to determine an individual’s social and early learner skills. VB-MAPP stands for Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program. Quality ABA centers use the VB-MAPP, or something similar, to assess a child’s skills and then guide the design of that child’s goals.

The AFLS (Assessment of Functional Living Skills) is another assessment tool that could be used by an ABA center to assess your child’s needs. AFLS assesses the more practical, functional skills like toileting, dressing, basic communication, and self-management.

There are even more tools that ABA centers could be using, like the ABLLS and the Essentials for Living. These tools not only allow the therapy team to do an initial assessment of a child but they are also designed for continued monitoring and measurement of your child’s progress. The therapy team uses these tools to re-evaluate the effectiveness of the therapy program and make changes as goals are reached or if certain approaches may work better than others.

Consider asking an ABA center if they are using these tools to initially evaluate and continually monitor their children. Without these tools and the data they provide, an ABA center would have far less visibility into your child’s needs and progress.

Programs Based on Data

Data is the lifeblood of any quality ABA program and guides the decision-making about your child’s therapy programs.

For example, when your child first comes to a center, they may spend 60 minutes of every day flopping on the floor and screaming. A proper ABA center should be tracking the amount of time your child engages in this behavior. Over time, it will become possible to see a trend in the frequency of problem behaviors from one day to the next. The therapy program supervisors will then use this daily/weekly trend to decide how well the intervention is working. Eventually, they’ll want to see the 60 minutes of daily tantrums become 30 or 15 minutes. This declining trend in tantrums could indicate that the program is working. 

On the flip side, if that 60 minutes of daily tantrums consistently stayed at 60 minutes over the course of several months, this might indicate that something about the therapy program wasn’t working. In the case of a program not working, the program supervisors should be able to re-examine the child’s behavior and shift the therapy program accordingly.

Consider asking the center for autism, “What kind of data do you use to track my child’s progress?” and “Can I see the data?”

Social Skills, Natural Environment Training, and Table Work

Every ABA therapy program should be based on three different components of ABA.

1. Social skills: The child should be learning social skills by communicating with the therapist, working on eye contact improvements, and socializing with other children at the center. To make sure your child is getting the right social skills training, you want to know that they will have appropriate peer groups of the same age. A 10-year-old will not gain as many social skills interacting with only 5-year-old children, as opposed to interacting with children their own age.
2. Natural environment training: Natural environment training involves using the principles of ABA therapy in natural environments or “the real world.” If your child only learned at a table in a therapy room, then they would have a harder time applying their teachings to other situations. By integrating therapy into “natural environments” like a kitchen, a bathroom, or even a playroom, your child becomes more equipped to use their new skills in the rest of the world and in your home.
3. Table work: Table work is the initial teaching arm of the therapy program. Table work provides an environment that is engineered to reduce distractions. The reduced-distraction environment of table work creates focused learning experiences for your child. Through table work, they will become more accustomed to the kind of setting they will experience in a regular classroom as well as at a desk job.

One-on-One Therapy

An intense ABA therapy program means there will be a lower ratio between therapists and children. Additionally, an intensive ABA therapy program should strive for a 1:1 ratio between therapists and children as much as possible.

A 1:1 ratio has a positive impact on implementing the therapy. With a 1:1 ratio, the therapist can be fully aware of all your child’s behaviors, struggles, triumphs, and skills.

Furthermore, the 1:1 ratio also has benefits beyond the learning part of the therapy program and impacts the general operation of the autism center. Even small amounts of time where therapists must manage multiple children can result in behaviors going unnoticed and safety becoming increasingly at risk.

Ask the ABA center how often your child will be one-on-one with a therapist. If it’s possible, try to find a center that provides 100% one-on-one ABA therapy. This means that at NO point during the therapy program will your child be without a one-on-one setting with a therapist.

Contact Lighthouse Autism Center to learn more about finding a quality ABA center for your child.

Verbal Behavior Therapy is a vital tool used to help those with autism improve their communication skills. Learn more about this approach to teaching communication and the benefits it offers autistic people.

What Is Verbal Behavior Therapy?

Communication is the foundation of human interaction, enabling us to connect, share ideas, resolve conflicts, and collaborate with others in our daily lives. However, this seemingly simple task can present distinct challenges for autistic children for a number of reasons, from neurological differences to sensory sensitivities and social factors. 

Verbal Behavioral Therapy (VBT) is an evidence-based approach rooted in the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). The ABA verbal behavior approach sees verbal communication as a learned behavior and focuses specifically on teaching and improving a person’s verbal communication skills. It is a practice aimed at helping people who struggle in this area to develop their functional language and communication skills. 

At Lighthouse Autism Center, we use the Verbal Behavioral (VB) branch of ABA to teach autistic children essential communication and language skills. We focus on why we use language, the purpose of words, and how autistic children can use their words to communicate their needs, wants, and ideas in a meaningful and effective way. 

VBT is derived from the same philosophy of behaviorism that underpins ABA. It employs basic scientific methodologies to develop socially and educationally significant behaviors. VBT emphasizes the use of language within environmental contexts and verbal communities so that the learned communication skills are both functional and contextually relevant. 

How Does Verbal Behavior Therapy Work?

VBT uses verbal operants, or types of verbal behavior, to teach autistic children how to communicate better, and this verbal behavior approach can be very effective as a part of early intervention. It breaks down language into different uses and focuses on how these can be applied in everyday situations to help autistic children understand the purpose of language and improve their communication skills. Some of these operants include:

• Mand: When a person or child uses language to make a request. For example, if the child is thirsty, they will say “water” and receive a glass of water to drink.
• Tact: When a person or child labels something in the environment. For example, the child may see a glass filled with water and then say, “Water.” 
• Intraverbal: When a person or child is able to respond to a question. For example, when a teacher asks, “Would you like a glass of water to drink?” and the child responds, “Yes.”
• Echoic: When a person or child repeats what another person said. For example, when a teacher says “water,” and the child repeats the word “water.”

These verbal behavior examples demonstrate how VBT breaks down communication into functional units. So, when a child masters these different types of verbal behavior, they will be better able to understand and use language in meaningful ways.

The History of Verbal Behavior Therapy

The research and practices of VBT are based on the book “Verbal Behavior,” published in 1957 by the very influential behaviorist, B.F. Skinner. Skinner discovered operant conditioning, which is the fundamental idea that behaviors that are reinforced will tend to continue, while behaviors that are punished will eventually end. 

While the analysis of VB is extended from lab experiments of operant conditioning, it involves not only the environmental variables but also the behavior of other people who also use the same language. In other words, VB operates at a level where both the listener and the speaker are taken into consideration, along with any factors in the environment.

VB is different from other language theories that emphasize the cognitive or physiological process inside the living organism. B.F. Skinner’s analysis of verbal behavior turns the focus to controlling the variables in the environment that impact the cause or function of language. 

This means that VB is not only for vocal verbal language but also non-vocal use of language such as gestures, eye contact, pointing, and other nonverbal cues. VBT is not too concerned with the forms or structures of language, but these are important in the analysis of linguistics.

The Pros of VBT

Many practitioners utilize ABA verbal behavior therapy as an approach to developing communication skills in autistic children. There are a number of benefits to VBT as a part of the broader framework of ABA. Some of the main pros of VBT include:

1. Enhances analysis of the way we learn to speak in a natural environment. (Language acquisition can be natural but should not be confused with being innate).
2. Allows language to be broken down into small sections for in-depth analysis.
3. With the analysis, specific instructional sequences can be systematically developed for an autistic individual.
4. When learning issues occur, the analysis allows us to pinpoint possible sources.
5. Allows for individualized instructional strategies based on what the individual needs.
6. Helps create intensive and systematic intervention plans for individuals who have difficulties with communication and/or intellectual disabilities.
7. Intervention plans for individuals with difficulties with language and/or disabilities can be incorporated into natural and artificial settings.
8. Advances empirical research due to operational definitions that can be precisely defined, and each small component can be isolated to pinpoint the primary controlling variables.