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What's happening at the Crystal Coast Autism Center?
Tips for Traveling with Children and Adults with Autism
By Mary Janca, self-advocate and high school teacher
Summer is supposed to be a time to reward yourself and your family for a year of hard work, growth, and change. It represents a break from multiple settings and situations – school for children, and often a lull in expectations at work for adults. However, it can present another set of stressors for a family that has one or more individuals with autism. These include changes in schedules, different levels of stimuli and input, and finally, different places to go. We’re going to focus on the family trip for this lil’ article. More articles will follow…
Mary Janca on her travels
One of the best things to do to prepare for anything new is to practice. Practice, practice, practice. Sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many variables are involved in travel that could cause stress to an autistic person. Being somewhere new can make it difficult to meet basic needs (such as trying to find acceptable food options or a bathroom), and take in new sights and sounds. The more exposure that a person can get to new things, the better they will be at coping with the actual trip.
Before beginning any practice, be sure to inform your family member of your intentions. It can minimize frustration for them and gives them a sense of empowerment because they can contribute to their own self-improvement. Offer a reward for a completed task as a means of encouragement.
Changes in Schedule
Schedule changes can cause high anxiety for an autistic individual, because they are an unknown. Not knowing when a day will end, when food is going to appear, when the bathrooms will be visited – all of these are examples of things that can cause fear. Additionally, the individual will have to cope with accommodating other people’s needs. Often an autistic family member becomes the person to whom everyone else adjusts and accommodates. On a family trip, they may not get this privilege.
To help the person with managing their fears, start with small tasks that have some changes in schedules. For example, you can take the individual to the mall at a random time of day. Take them to stores they may not like and have them wait if they ask to use the bathroom. Have them walk past foods they will want to eat, but do not stop to buy anything. You know your child/adult better than anyone, so you can probably feel out when they are starting to feel stress. Ease off when you see this. The most important thing is that they start to adjust to changes in schedule and not having their way.
Crowds
Lots of people come with lots of stimuli. Touch – from people bumping into each other. Smells – cologne lovers, deodorant haters, unchanged diapers, and garlic eaters. Sounds – talking, yelling, giggling, and random sounds of cell phones, gadgets, beeps, etc. These are just a few of the stimuli that will be uncontrollable on a family trip. Practice by taking the individual to places with crowds, but again, watch them for stress and have an “out” if they are struggling. Good places would be sporting events and malls (again), because you could leave quickly. Bad places are concerts, since they can be very difficult to get out of quickly.
Visual Stimuli
An overstimulated person can hyper-focus on one object or zone out entirely. You can see this when your child/adult is worrying a fidget device, picking at something, or endlessly staring at something. Practice having them follow directions and attend to their environment by taking them to new places that are similar to your vacation setting, such as museums, parks, restaurants, and shows. Give them specific commands and verbal cues that help them snap out of it and attend to their environment. When you’re on vacation, you will want your family member to be present and aware to fully enjoy the new experience.
Different Food
This should be relatively easy and cheap to accomplish. Find recipes and try them out! Extra kudos to you if the individual participates in picking recipes… even better if they cook!
These are just some of the variables that you and your family will encounter on a summer vacation. This should help get you started on brainstorming scenarios that could be challenging for an autistic individual. Feel free to share your ideas and suggestions below!
Mary Janca was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at 33 years of age after years of struggles, including trying to fit her unique self into various molds. She works as a high school teacher and coach for students who are of all learning and social abilities (including with ASD). She has a Masters in Special Education, a Bachelors in Film & Anthropology, and teaching certifications in various subjects. She enjoys exercise, travel, learning, people, reading, and art. She welcomes emails at maryj2001@hotmail.com and contact on Facebook for questions or to make a connection!
Simple Ways to Keep It “Cool” this Summer
Erica Brown, MA, BCBA
Summer is finally here, and the temperatures are rising! Thankfully, we don’t have to see a rise in tantrum behavior with those temperatures. Here are five simple ways to help prevent the heat from rising inside your home:
Grandma’s Law
There is no way to avoid asking your child to do tasks that they don’t want to do. When this occurs, remember what Grandma used to do! Try to follow the activity they don’t like by allowing them to do something they enjoy. For example, “first clean your room, then you can go to the pool.” This highly preferred activity will serve as the reinforcement for the less preferred activity or demand.
Use visual supports
Picture schedules, written schedules, and timers are all tools that can be used throughout your day. Even when your child is spending the day at home, a visual schedule will allow you to build structure into their day. Timers can be used alongside the schedule to help signal that a transition will be occurring. Giving your child an idea of what is coming next in their day helps set them up for success.
Provide choices
When possible and feasible, give your child choices. This will allow your child to exert some control within their day. You can provide choices over what reinforcing item he/she would like: (Do you want ice cream or a popsicle?) Choices can also be provided with non-preferred activities or items as well. (Which do you want to do first, clean your room or read a story?)
Keep it simple
It’s important that we aren’t avoiding less preferred activities just because they result in challenging behaviors. When presenting demands or tasks, keep it simple! Keep your language simple, sticking to short sentences and pairing with visual supports. Break down complex tasks into parts. Rather than telling your child to clean the entire playroom, tell them exactly what should be picked up.
Keep it positive
Rather than providing lots of attention to the things you want your child to stop doing, focus on the things you want them to keep doing. Give your child attention for the good things that they do! Give your child behavior specific compliments (“Great job sharing with your sister”) when you see them doing positive things. Provide preferred items or activities without requiring your child to do anything throughout the day.
Remember, summer is a time for fun and leisure! These simple tips can help keep you cool for the summer.
Erica Brown, MA, BCBA, can be reached at ebrown@autismsociety-nc.org or 919-390-7238.
ASNC’s Clinical Department staff is composed of PhD and master’s-level licensed psychologists, Board Certified Behavior Analysts, and former special education teachers. We provide individualized intensive consultation using evidence-based practices to support children and adults across the spectrum in home, school, employment, residential and other community-based contexts. We also deliver workshops to professionals and families on a wide range of topics including but not limited to, strategies to prevent and respond to challenging behaviors, best practices in early intervention, functional communication training, and enhancing social understanding in individuals with autism.
To find out more, contact us at 919-390-7242 or training@autismsociety-nc.org.
Check out the Crystal Coast Chapter
Happening they have going on!
Monthly Meeting
2nd Wednesday of each month: Come join us at our Crystal Coast Chapter Meeting at the ASNC-Social Recreation Center in Newport. The address is 113 Roberts Rd. The meeting begins at 7pm. Childcare will be available for families with family members on the autism spectrum. Families must RSVP to the email provided above prior to the meeting with specific information to ensure there is enough help to care for the family members. This is a structured meeting designed to cover chapter business.
Monthly Activities
2nd Saturday of each month: Come celebrate with us at our Friends, Fun, and Birthday Club at The Autism Society of NC Social Recreation Center in Newport from 10am-12pm. We'll have Legos, ping pong, foosball, and other fun stuff for kids of all ages. We will celebrate the birthdays of all the children in our chapter born this month (including siblings!). Please text or call Susan Walker at 252-725-4953 to register your birthday boy or girl so we can give him or her a gift. You can also reach Susan by e-mail at crystalcoastASNC@gmail.com
3rd Saturday of each month: Music and Fun with Mary Withington at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Morehead City from 10 am to 11 am. There is no charge for this class. Be sure to register with Mary by email at mwithmusic@aol.com or by phone 252-726-5920. Children of all ages are welcome.
We have social skill groups here at CCAC... We have classes on a regular basis throughout the year. Jennifer Arnold runs the classes. She can be reached at 252-515-4101 or ccla0601@gmail.
com.
If anyone is interested please give her a call or you can call CCAC!
"Think of it: a disability is usually defined in terms of what is missing. ...But autism...is as much about what is abundant as what is missing, an over-expression of the very traits that make our species unique."
-Paul Collins
~*Not Even Wrong: Adventures in Autism*~
Autism and Health: A Special Report by Autism Speaks
Advances in understanding and treating the physical and mental health conditions that frequently accompany autism
April 26, 2017
This week, Autism Speaks issued the first in a series of annual, in-depth reports on special topics in autism – Autism and Health: Advances in Understanding and Treating the Health Conditions that Frequently Accompany Autism.
The last decade has brought tremendous advances in understanding and addressing the many physical and mental health conditions that frequently accompany autism. We now know that autism is a whole-body disorder for many people on the spectrum. Its common co-morbidities include epilepsy, gastrointestinal distress, sleep disturbances, eating and feeding challenges, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
While each new piece of high-quality research adds to our understanding of autism, it also adds to the complexity of developing the best practices to address the diverse needs of the autism community.
So in this, our inaugural special report, we have gathered the most-authoritative research on autism-associated health conditions and the latest guidelines on treatment and support for those affected by them.
This report – and much of the research behind it – would not be possible without the passion and generosity of our community of volunteers, donors and families.
You can download a copy of the 35-page report from our website
here.
Explore more:Science anxiety ASD autism autism and health bipolar depression Epilepsy GI premature mortality schizophrenia sleep Special Report by Autism Speaks
At Autism Speaks, our goal is to provide individuals with autism and their families with all the tools they need throughout the lifespan. Adults living with autism often have difficulty finding information about programs and supports that would allow them to live as independently as possible.
Therefore, our Adult Services initiatives focus on resources that impact all facets of adult life including employment, housing, community life and post-secondary education.
The Adult Services section of our website is divided into 7 sections:
Housing and Community Living
Autism and Employment
Postsecondary Educational Opportunities
Autism Speaks Adult Services Grants
Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism
Adults with Autism in the News
Adults with Autism Resource Library
We are constantly updating our website so be sure to come back often for updates and new resources!
Adult Services
New Projects and Resources:
In March, Autism Speaks launched Is It Autism and If So, What Next? A Guide for Adults, a tool kit designed to help adults who suspect they may have autism, as well as those recently diagnosed with the disorder. Learn more here!
In late 2014, Autism Speaks launched three great new employment tools for the autism community. Check them out here!
Autism Speaks is excited to announce the launch of our latest tool Community-based Skills Assessment (CSA): Developing a Personalized Transition Plan!
We have also established 2 new networking groups on LinkedIn - to connect members of the community around specific adult-related issues. Please join us!
Autism Employment Network, powered by Autism Speaks
Housing & Residential Supports Network, powered by Autism Speaks
Welcome!
2nd Wednesday of each month: Come join us at our Crystal Coast Chapter Meeting at the ASNC-Social Recreation Center in Newport. The address is 113 Roberts Rd. The meeting begins at 7pm. Childcare will be available for families with family members on the autism spectrum. Families must RSVP to the email provided above prior to the meeting with specific information to ensure there is enough help to care for the family members. This is a structured meeting designed to cover chapter business.
Monthly Activities
2nd Saturday of each month: Come celebrate with us at our Friends, Fun, and Birthday Club at The Autism Society of NC Social Recreation Center in Newport from 10am-12pm. We'll have Legos, ping pong, foosball, and other fun stuff for kids of all ages. We will celebrate the birthdays of all the children in our chapter born this month (including siblings!). Please text or call Susan Walker at 252-725-4953 to register your birthday boy or girl so we can give him or her a gift. You can also reach Susan by e-mail at crystalcoastASNC@gmail.com