Gifts for the holidays

It’s that time of the season! Are you excited for all of the winter holidays to begin, such as Hanukkah or Christmas? I know I’m excited for Hanukkah, in which I celebrate for eight nights and eight full days.

The funny thing is that when I was very little, I wouldn’t even touch a single present that my parents gave me during Hanukkah. Not kidding! This was due to mostly being in my own world. Now you must be thinking: Do I enjoy presents now compared to when I was little? That answer is: yes!

When it comes to purchasing gifts for neurodiverse people, it may seem tricky but its not really at all. Here are some gift recommendations to buy as presents for neurodiverse people during the holidays:

1. Weighted blanket

2. Beanbag seat

3. Lava lamp or bubble lamp

4. Puzzles

5. Play dough

6. Noise canceling headphones

7. Sensory liquid motion

8. Gift cards like Amazon and Netflix

9. Pop its

10. Inexpensive tablets

Any more ideas you want to share on gifts for neurodiverse people and their families? Share your ideas in the comments section!

Pursue your dreams

I brought back a guest on “The World of Autism” who has a special message to share with our community:

Justin Moehn is an autistic self advocate from Texas. He is an active keynote speaker for various organizations and companies. In this guest podcast episode, Justin shares updates about his mission with BlueSprig (an ABA therapy company) and keynote speaking engagements. He shares an important message for the community about not giving up on your dreams. Justin is pursuing to be a full time keynote speaking more than ever, so if you need a keynote speaker, reach out to him.

Do you have any questions or thoughts for Justin Moehn? Share them in the comments section!

Friendly Fun Thanksgiving

It’s that time of the year for Thanksgiving!

Do you want to know some ways to make Thanksgiving more friendly and fun for neurodiverse people? Here are some tips:

1. Review expectations prior to Thanksgiving! It’s important to teach neurodiverse people expectations during activities on Thanksgiving, such as eating at the table when it’s time to eat dinner with family. Social stories, role playing, and teachable moments can help with reviewing expectations for the holiday.

2. Plan for the noise! Between the noises from cooking to shows on TV played during Thanksgiving, noise level can go through the roof for neurodiverse people, which some may not like. Make sure to keep the noise level down to appropriate, so everyone can enjoy, and have noise canceling headphones around when needed for neurodiverse people.

3. Create a quiet space! Everyone needs a space to go to even during holidays when feeling overwhelmed, and that’s ok. It’s important to accept when a neurodiverse individual needs to step aside and have a little time alone to be recharged and back in the fun of Thanksgiving. We all need to do that even for our own mental health and it’s ok!

4. Arrive early! When taking a neurodiverse individual to a cousins house or somewhere else, it’s important to plan ahead and get there early. If it’s a new setting, it can help neurodiverse people get adapted much quicker since the environment is quiet in the beginning. This helps for anyone who feels overwhelmed by so many people during the holiday, so getting to a location during Thanksgiving early can help prevent anxiety and overwhelming feelings.

5. Bring something everyone will enjoy! It’s important to know that neurodiverse people can be picky eaters. Not everyone, but some. I know growing up, I was a picky eater for a long time. My mom taught me to slowly try one new food a day while having preferred meals. It’s a good way of not forcing someone to eat all new and slowly introduce new food. Thanksgiving is about being thankful, including all kinds of food made by family.

6. Have fun and be thankful! Thanksgiving is about being thankful for all who are part of your life, including neurodiverse people. Never compare because everyone is unique in their own ways and brings something special in the world. Make this holiday the way you want it to be and have fun with it!

What other tips or advice you have to make Thanksgiving more friendly and fun for neurodiverse people and families? Share your thoughts in the comments section!

Plan for transitions

Transitions are important for everyone to navigate since we deal with them every day in our lives, such as going from home to school or work. Transitions can be easy for some people, but not everyone handles them well, including major life transitions like going from high school to college or full time employment. Neurodiverse people need more time and support when going through transitions, but they are capable of learning to transition, such as between activities or locations. Want to learn ways to help neurodiverse people overcome transitions?

Here are some proactive approaches to implement in order for neurodiverse people when transitioning for anything:

1. Use timers! Timers allow neurodiverse people to be prepared of the upcoming transition (ex: I’m setting a timer for 2 minutes before we move on to math).

2. Provide transition warnings! This can be verbal or visuals to show how much time left of an activity or in a location (10 mins, 5 mins, 1 min).

3. Provide a countdown! This can look like counting up or down before a transition occurs: (ex: 5,4,3,2,1)

4. Implement visuals aids or supports! This looks like individualized pictures schedules, first then visual board, social story, etc. Social stories and role playing can be beneficial when preparing for major life transitions, such as going from middle school to high school.

5. Follow through expectations! Give processing time for neurodiverse people to transition while keeping expectations in place.

6. Reinforce transition! Celebrate the moment a neurodiverse individual transitions from one activity to another or one location to another and vice versa.

These are some approaches to help neurodiverse people transition through anything! Have more tips? Share them in the comments section!

Punishment route

As we all know, consequences follow after a person’s behavior or response occurs. Did you know punishment is one kind of consequence used to change a person’s behavior or response?

Punishment is a consequence provided in order to decrease the likelihood of the behavior or response happening in the future. In ABA therapy sessions, providers don’t use punishment as much because it can harm clients in psychological ways, such as clients showing more emotional reactions in the environment as a result. Plus, punishment doesn’t teach a client what they should behave or respond to in the environment. There are specific and rare occasions punishment can be used, such as all reinforcement contingencies have not worked for changing behaviors or responses. With that being said, always use reinforcement contingencies first before heading in the route of punishment contingencies.

Now, let’s dive into the types of punishment contingencies: positive and negative. Positive punishment is adding something into the environment that’s not pleasant after a behavior or response occurs. For example, Jimmy drove more than 30 miles over speed limit on a 60 mph highway. A police officer pulls Jimmy over and gives him a ticket for speeding. Jimmy’s behavior caused him to get a ticket. Have you ever been in a situation like that? That’s the positive punishment contingency. On the other hand, negative punishment is taking away something pleasant after a behavior or response occurs. An example of this would be Jenny coming home late from being out with her friends, so her parents take away her car keys and not let her drive for the day because she didn’t follow her parents curfew rule. That’s the negative punishment contingency. These punishment contingencies change behaviors or responses by decreasing their  likelihood of occurring in the future.

As mentioned earlier, reinforcement contingencies should be implemented before even using any punishment contingencies. It’s more important to focus on teaching behaviors or responses that are functional to individual needs and will help increase an individual’s quality of life. Do you agree?

Any questions about punishment contingencies? Share them in the comments section!

Halloween 2023

Happy Halloween! Do you want to know ways to make Halloween more friendly for autistic and neurodiverse people? Here are some tips:

  1. Recognize there are many different ways to communicate. I mentioned in my last blog story that alternative forms of communication can look like sign language, communication core boards, speech output devices, etc. This helps neurodiverse people feel safe and seen when expressing themselves.
  2. Remember that sensory differences matter. If an autistic child isn’t wearing a costume, that shouldn’t preclude them from participating, Also, consider leaving a basket of treats/candies somewhere away from the decorations or crowds for sensory-sensitive kids to help themselves within the community. In addition, designate a certain window of time during which your event will be sensory-friendly within the community. Decorations will have their lights and sounds turned down or off, costumes won’t light up or make noise, treats will be easily accessible, and it will be less crowded.
  3. Ensure school Halloween celebrations includes everyone. Be a team, and collaborate on ideas for sensory-friendly Halloween parties or costume parades, crafting stations for neurodiverse kids who prefer a creative activity to trick-or-treating, non-edible treats, inclusive costume policies that allow neurodiverse children to wear costumes that accommodate their sensory sensitivities or communication needs or participate without wearing a costume at all, and designated safe spaces or sensory break areas where neurodiverse kids can go if they become overwhelmed.

Do you have any more Halloween tips that I did not mention? Share your thoughts in the comments section!

AAC

Did you know that this month is augmentive and alternative communication month?

ACC has to do with alternative forms of communication. ACC looks different for every individual because every individual communicates in their own unique ways. These are some forms of AAC:

  • Picture exchange communication system
  • Speech generating devices
  • American Sign Language
  • Commutation core boards

There are many ways to teach a neurodiverse individual to communicate. I recommend using naturalistic teaching approaches as well as modeling for the individual of the communication methods they are going to use. For example, I learned to used picture exchange communication system very young when I was still nonverbal at the time. Plus, I have an intellectual disability classroom in an elementary school I’ve been working with to implement communication core board for their students to help their learners communicate. It’s important to let neurodiverse people explore their new communication methods. Most importantly, remember that more than one alternative communication form should be accepted. ACC replaces a lot of behaviors such as headbanging, biting, etc, in order to increase an individual’s quality of life.

What communication method have you been trying to teach your child/student? What approaches have you tried using to teach your child communication skills? Share your thoughts in the comments section!

Disability Employment Month 2023

Did you know that the unemployment rate for neurodiverse people who are ready and willing to work is typically twice that of the general neurotypical working population?

It is so important for workplaces to hire neurodiverse adults because workplaces can have all kinds of minds working together to expand more inclusive companies and organizations.

This year, I’ve been so grateful to be working as a behavior specialist for a public school district in FL and various roles with Full Spectrum ABA. I went from being a paraprofessional for many years to a behavior specialist for a public school district in FL. As a behavior specialist, I’m helping students learn social, communication, and many other skills and behaviors in school while coaching teachers and school staff.

I began that journey in January of this year. The journey learning my role has not been easy at all. In fact, this position was the first time I had to learn to seek support and workplace accommodations.

At the end of August, during my first month of the school year, I was so overwhelmed in my role to the point that my parents made me talk to my supervisor about my concerns and supports I needed. My mom and I wrote a letter out that expressed my concerns and support that I needed. For example, I needed help knowing which students I should be working with more since so many students get brought up to attention. My supervisor was really happy for me , and I advocated for myself. She created a visual priority system for me to follow and made sure I can reach out to her about any situations with students that come up in which I need help problem solving with. In fact, my supervisor shared the priority system with the entire team to use. It was so great I advocated for myself!

What kind of workplace supports and accommodations can be in place for neurodiverse employees? Here are some ideas to advocate for workplace accommodations:

1. modification of work schedule or policy physical changes to workspace

2. equipment and devices

3. Job restructuring

4. Adjustment of supervisory methods

5. Job coaching

These are some of many workplace accommodations that can be advocated for by neurodiverse employees.

How can your work become more inclusive and supportive of neurodiverse employees? Share your thoughts in the comments section!

Socially mediated reinforcement

It’s amazing how much reinforcement occurs in our own everyday situations.

One type of reinforcement that occurs often is socially mediated reinforcement. Socially meditated reinforcement is other people or things in the environment that reinforce a person’s behavior or response.

Now, let’s look at this picture above. Easily think about social media for this kind of reinforcement. Let’s say I posted on my social media about my latest keynote speech. A minute later, my post got likes and comments on it from others on social media. People just reinforced my post by liking or commenting on it. When people like and comment on posts, it will increase the behavior of posting online to occur more often in the future. That’s socially meditated reinforcement in a nut shell!

Any questions about socially mediated reinforcement? Share your questions in the comments section!

Sensory/Automatic Reinforcement

Did you know sensory is one of the functions of behavior?

Nowadays, sensory in the ABA field is known as automatic reinforcement. This means people fulfill their individual needs by themselves without anyone or anything from the environment. Almost all of the time, this occurs when people are alone and no demands are in place. Not only that, people reinforce themselves, no matter positive or negative!

Automatic reinforcement as a function for behavior can look like many of these examples:

1. Jonathan brushes his hair with a hairbrush to make his hair neat.

2. Ariella loves to eat cookies because she loves the soft texture of them.

3. Samantha feels a mosquito bite, so she will scratch the spot to relieve the itchy sensation.

4. Michelle washed her hands after she got them dirty from cooking.

5. Dr. Temple Grandin applies the squeeze machine on herself to gain deep pressure.

6. Kevin rocks back and forth in his seat during a college lecture to stay awake.

People engage in self-stimming behaviors, so automatic reinforcement is the function of the behaviors. The best way to think of automatic reinforcement is that automatic equals self! No person or thing in the environment reinforces an individual except themselves. People can reinforce themselves. Did you know that?

It’s very interesting to think that, but it’s possible to reinforce ourselves. Any questions or thoughts about automatic reinforcement? Share your thoughts and questions in the comments section!