DS-ASD, How to Manage Throwing and Dropping Behaviors
Over the weekend I read several posts on Facebook dual diagnosis of Down syndrome and autism (DS-ASD) groups. Many parents were seeking help and guidance. Their big question was- How to manage throwing and dropping behaviors? My son Nick is 25 years old. He has a dual diagnosis of DS-ASD, and his fair share of these two behaviors. Short of waving a magic wand, these undesirable behaviors can be curtailed with behavior management.
The first step is to determine what function the target behavior is serving. When you can decipher what purpose the behavior has for a child, and when these occur, you and the IEP team can come up with a plan for behavior management. A behavior support plan (BSP) can outline strategies and replacement behaviors that are more suitable and desired both at school and home.
You can read more about how identify the function of behaviors and put a positive behavior support plan in place for dropping and throwing by clicking on the following link:
https://nickspecialneeds.wordpress.com/2012/04/17/blog-3-getting-your-goat/
This is one of the first blogs that I wrote back in 2012, that provides a blueprint on how we managed the throwing and dropping behaviors with my son, Nick. Blog #3~DS-ASD Getting your goat, still happens to be one of my favorites, to this day. 🙂
The current status of dropping and throwing behaviors with my son varies from day-to-day. The function is still boredom and attention seeking and somewhat sensory related, when we as his parents, are busy around the house. Since 2012, Nick has more jobs around the house like recycling, unloading the dishwasher, vacuuming, and helping to roll the garbage and recycling bins to the curb. Heavy work activities are part of a good sensory diet that are calming and organizing to the brain. I still have to remind myself not to let Nick get my goat. But instead, I try my best to respond, and not react. I highly recommend this great resource book, by David S. Stein, Psy. D., to learn more about behavior management:
Behavior management can help decrease the incidences of negative behaviors such as throwing and dropping in children, teens and adults with a dual diagnosis of Down syndrome and autism (DS-ASD). Collaborate with the IEP team and a certified BCBA therapist to do the detective work with a functional behavior assessment (FBA) that can lead to a positive behavior support plan (BSP). Remember always try to respond and not react, when your child is trying to get your goat.
That’s what is in my noggin this week.
~Teresa 🙂
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