Table Of ContentEncouraging Appropriate Behavior
for Children on the Autism Spectrum
bythesameauthor
RaisingaChildwithAutism
AGuidetoAppliedBehaviorAnalysisforParents
ShiraRichman
ISBN1853029106
of relatedinterest
UnderstandingAutismSpectrumDisorders
FrequentlyAskedQuestions
DianeYapko
ISBN1843107562
Asperger’sSyndrome
AGuideforParentsandProfessionals
TonyAttwood
ForewordbyLornaWing
ISBN1853025771
ParentingaChildwithAspergerSyndrome
200TipsandStrategies
BrendaBoyd
ISBN1843101378
AddressingtheChallengingBehavior
ofChildrenwithHigh-FunctioningAutism/Asperger
SyndromeintheClassroom
AGuideforTeachersandParents
RebeccaA.Moyes
ISBN1843107198
AppliedBehaviourAnalysisandAutism
BuildingAFutureTogether
EditedbyMickeyKeenan,MaryHenderson,KenP.KerrandKarolaDillenburger
ForewordbyProfessorGinaGreen
ISBN1843103109
Parents’EducationasAutismTherapists
AppliedBehaviourAnalysisinContext
EditedbyMickeyKeenan,KenP.KerrandKarolaDillenburger
ForewordbyBobbyNewman
ISBN1853027782
Encouraging Appropriate
Behavior for Children
on the Autism Spectrum
Frequently Asked Questions
Shira Richman
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
London and Philadelphia
Firstpublishedin2006
byJessicaKingsleyPublishers
116PentonvilleRoad
LondonN19JB,UK
and
400MarketStreet,Suite400
Philadelphia,PA19106,USA
www.jkp.com
Copyright©ShiraRichman2006
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LibraryofCongressCataloginginPublicationData
Richman,Shira,1972-
Encouragingappropriatebehaviorforchildrenontheautismspectrum:frequently
askedquestions/ShiraRichman.
p.cm.
ISBN-13:978-1-84310-825-2(pbk.:alk.paper)
ISBN-10: 1-84310-825-9 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Autistic children--Behavior
modification.2. Autisticchildren--Familyrelationships.3. Parentsofautisticchildren.4.
Parentandchild. I.Title.
RJ506.A9R5342006
618.92'85882--dc22
2006002043
BritishLibraryCataloguinginPublicationData
ACIPcataloguerecordforthisbookisavailablefromtheBritishLibrary
ISBN-13:9781843108252
ISBN-10:1843108259
ISBNpdfeBook:1846420857
PrintedandboundinGreatBritainby
AthenaeumPress,Gateshead,TyneandWear
In loving memory of my grandmother, Yetta Verbit,
a role model of independence and calm.
To my mother, Esther Lantz Verbit,
for showing me how to take full advantage
of everything beautiful in this world.
For reminding me, at times, to be patient with my own
children, and for her unconditional, dedicated love.
To my father, Mervin Verbit, for enveloping us
with his relaxed, positive outlook on life,
and for always taking children seriously.
Thank you
Acknowledgements
I want to thank my husband for his help and encouragement in
completingthisproject.Iwanttothankmysiblings(especiallymy
brother and his computer skills) for their advice and for their time
spenthelpingmewiththis,aswellasotherprojects.Iespeciallywant
to thank themfor theexperiencesand love thattheyshowerupon
mychildren.Iwanttothankmysonforhispatienceinwaitingfor
histurnonthecomputer.Hewrotesomeheart-warmingandcreative
books himself. I would like to thank my daughter for playing
“nicely-nicely”whileIwasworking.Iamproudof youboth.
Contents
INTRODUCTION 17
Part 1: Behavioral Theory and Application
1. Maladaptivebehaviors:wheredotheycomefrom? 22
2. HowdoIknowthecauseof aspecificbehavior?
Orwhatisafunctionalanalysis? 24
3. HowdoIknowwhenitisrighttotrytochangemy
child’sbehavior? 27
4. Dotime-outsreallywork? 28
5. IfindthatIamconstantlystrugglingwithmychild
(diagnosedwithPervasiveDevelopmentDisorderNot
OtherwiseSpecified)intime-outsandthreateninghim
withpunishments.Althoughthisseemstowork,isthere
anotherwaytokeephisbehaviorundercontrol? 30
6. Mychildactsoutforattention.HowcanIstophis
behaviorwhenthebehaviorrequirestheattentionIgiveit? 31
7. HowcanIavoidunwantedbehaviorsbefore
theyspiraloutofcontrolandneedintervention? 32
8. HowmuchshouldIpushmychildtolearnnewthings
andnewwaysofbehavingbeforeIampushingtoohard? 36
Part 2: Encouraging Independence
and Teaching Self-help Skills
9. HowdoIfindthefinelinebetweenhelpingmy
developmentallydelayedchildwithdailylivingskills
andholdinghimbackbyhelpinghimtoomuch? 43
10. HowdoIgetmydaughtertosleepinherownbed? 44
11. Howcanwegetourdaughtertosleeppast4:00A.M.? 46
12. Mydaughter,whowasrecentlydiagnosedwithPervasive
DevelopmentDisorder,refusestogetdressedinthe
morning.Thisrefusalisconstantlymakingherlatefor
school.Iamtiredoffightingwithher.WhatelsecanIdo? 49
13. Mychildrefusestogetdressedbyhimself.Heisnownine
yearsold,andInolongerfeelitappropriateformetohave
todresshimwhenheiscapableofdoingso.HowcanI
coaxhimtodresshimselfinthemorning? 50
14. WhichshouldIworkonfirst:food-selectivityor
toilet-training? 52
15. Isthereawayformetogetmychildtoeatgreenfoods? 54
16. Mysonisafairlygoodeater,sowhydoeshereturnhome
fromschooleverydaywithhislunchalmostuntouched? 55
17. HowcanIgetmysix-year-oldtousehisfork? 57
18. Ifmysondoesnotmind,orevennotice,whenheiswet,
howcanItoilet-trainhim? 58
19. Mydaughterhasbeentoilet-trainedfortwoyearsbut
isstillinapull-upatnight.Shewakesupweteveryday.
HowdoIhelpherthroughthislaststepoftoilet-training? 60
20. Mychildisfineinunderwearalldayatschoolbuthas
anaccidenteverydayassoonashegetshome.Whydoes
hedothisandhowcanIstopit? 61
21. Mydaughterwillhappilygotothebathroomwhentaken
butdoesnotrequestitonherown.Ihavebeentaking
hertothebathroomfourtofivetimesaday,butifImiss
takingherjustonce,shehasanaccident.HowcanIget
hertousethebathroomwithoutbeingprompted? 62
22. Mysonistoilet-trained,butIalwayshavetoremindhim
topullhispantsup,flush,andwashhishands.Howcan
Igethimtobemoreindependent? 64
23. Mysonisscaredoftheshower.HowcanIgethimtowash? 65
24. My12-year-oldsonstillneedshelpintheshower.Howcan
Ihelphimgainmoreindependence? 67
25. Myautisticdaughterisattheagewhenshewillsoonget
herperiod.HowdoIteachheraboutcaringforherself? 68
26. HowdoIhelpmyson,whohasAsperger’ssyndrome,
throughpuberty? 70
27. HowcanIimprovemychild’sgrossmotorskills? 73
28. WhatmorecanIdoathometohelpmychildworkon
finemotorskills? 74
Part 3: Encouraging Healthy Communication
29. Whatarethepreciselinguisticobstaclesthatmychild
isfacingduetohisdisorder? 81
30. Myson’slanguageissoatypical,howdoIknowwhat
aspectoflanguagetofocusonteachinghimfirst? 82
31. Mysonisconstantlyrepeatingeverythingwesay.Heeven
repeatsthingshehearsontelevision.Peersthinkheis
funny,butIworryaboutthisbehavior.HowcanIexpand
hisexpressivevocabulary? 83
32. Mydaughterhasanadvancedvocabularyyetisunableto
useherwordstoaskforfoodwhensheishungry.Instead,
Ihavetoguesswhatshewantswhilesheiscryingonthe
kitchenfloor.HowcanIteachhertoexpressherneedsin
words? 86
33. Myson’stongueisconstantlystickingoutofhismouth.
WhatcanIdotohelphimremembertokeepitin? 87
34. Mychildmakeshimselfthrowupwhenheisupset.How
canIbreakthismessy,unpleasant,anddangeroushabit? 89
35. Whydoesn’tmydaughterfollowwithhereyeswhenI
pointtosomethingthatIwishhertosee? 90
36. HowcanIteachoursontorespondtohisname? 92
37. HowcanIteachmydaughtertheproperuseofpronouns? 94
38. Mychildhaswonderfulcommunicationskills,butwhatcan
wedotoincreasehiseyecontact? 95
39. MysonhasAsperger’ssyndrome.Hecommunicatesnicely
butspeakswithfewandunusualfacialexpressions.Can
properfacialexpressionsduringconversationbetaught? 97
40. Mychild’sspeechhasverylittleintonation,makinghim
difficulttofollow.Isthereanywaytoshowhimhowto
varyhistoneappropriatelyduringconversation? 99
41. Mychildhasbeenexaminedmedically,andalthough
nothinghasbeenfoundtopreventhimfromtalking,
tomeethimyouwouldthinkthatheismute.Isthereany
waytogethimtolearnhowtotalk? 100
42. Isthereawaytoteachtheartofchit-chat? 101
43. Ourdaughterspeaksclearlywhensheisaddressed,butis
thereanywaythatIcanteachhertoinitiateaconversation? 104
Part 4: Encouraging Appropriate Activities
and Interests
44. Mysonalwaysseemsverydistant.HowcanIgethim
moreinvolved? 111
45. Icannotgetmychildtositinachair.Hisinabilitytosit
stillisaffectinghimatmealtime,duringplaytime,and
atpreschool.Asidefromgivinghimmedication,what
canIdo? 112
46. HowcanIencouragemychildtoshowinterestinplaying? 113
47. Mysonspendshisfreetimeliningupobjectsandtoys.
HowcanIgethimtoplaymoreappropriately? 115
Description:Written in an accessible question-and-answer format for easy navigation, this book provides detailed, practical answers to the real questions asked by parents of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). One hundred questions, organized by topic, cover common everyday problems, from advice on
