Well, we had the team meeting I posted about last week. I was pretty happy with how well it came together, especially when the gym teacher replied to the email and said that she was interested in attending the meeting or in somehow getting some assistance working with Michael.
The autism consultant, who is available to Michael’s team on a limited basis since her services are contracted, was able to observe the class yesterday and give some suggestions to the teacher about how to handle the difficulties that arose. As the team discussed things today, we also realized how much his anxiety about performing well affects his behavior and how this is more obvious in gym because so many new activities are being introduced.
One of the suggestions to help lower his anxiety was previewing the activities, but the schedule is so tight that they don’t know how that can be done. So for now, we are going to have the teacher communicate with me ahead of time regarding the activities for the following week, and I will make sure that Michael has at least some familiarity with it. (If it proves to be helpful, I will push for it to be done at school.)
A couple of other issues were discussed, such as helping the TSS (behavioral aide) have more confidence in the scope of her role instead of hanging back until Michael acts out or the teacher asks for help and encouraging the rest of the team to provide much higher levels of positive reinforcement.
For the latter, we are basically mounting a “thumbs up” campaign to make Michael see all the good things about himself and his behavior in school. It may sound silly, but we are asking each teacher to give him at least three thumbs up or positive comments in each half hour period. This way, it is easy for the teachers to remember and also gives a consistent message to him.
How many thumbs up can you give today?
Trish can be found writing here at 5MFSN every Friday in addition to hosting Try This Tuesday. You can also find Trish blogging at Another Piece of the Puzzle and Autism Interrupted.
[...] I haven’t written much here this week, it’s been so busy. But I did want to share more about the team meeting I had requested at school. You can read all about it at Thumbs Up for a Good Team Meeting. [...]
Do you have a Behavior Specialist in your school system? They should be called in and and BIP should be done and implemented.
Behavior plans must be a part of the IEP. If a child’s behavior interferes with his or her learning, a behavior plan is required. Have training and supports for staff included in the IEP. Make sure the BIP (Behavior Intervention Plan) covers specific areas your child needs to work on, and does not include globally applied words like “appropriate.”
A great book for this is: Asperger Syndrome and Difficult Moments: Practical Solutions for Tantrums, Rage, and Meltdowns by Brenda Smith Myles- If your AS child exhibits any problems with behavior, this book helps parents with strategies and ideas to help their child. To effectively carry out individualized interventions with children with AS, we must first analyze the behaviors that precede situations, as well as those that happen during and after. Instead of random hit or miss efforts, this book explains the tools that parents and educators can use to pinpoint bad behavior and their causes and how to develop and implement a Behavior Intervention Plan that promotes proper behavior.
Believe me, I know! I also know they will fight me on it and I need to maintain this relationship for the next 5 years.
Technically, the behavior specialist does not have to be the one to do the FBA or BIP (at least in our district); it just has to be a special ed teacher.
For this one, they can probably use the information provided by the autism consultant and Michael’s BSC (behavior specialist through MA who goes into both home and school) and the Learning Support Teacher can write it up.
I need to get that book – thanks for the recommendation!
I don’t think thumbs-up is silly at all. You have shown a positive image of an IEP team working together to help the student. Thank you.
(That was a thumbs-up for this post!)
That is good news.
Glad it went well.
I give today a two thumbs up as well.
I had my parenting class..and it was great..we talked about taking care of the caregiver..ourselves.
Positive feedback is great, that is a super team.
We also use it when he [they] do something great = make them say something complimentary about themselves out loud so that they acknowledge their achievement as it helps to counteract so much of the ‘negative talk.’
Best wishes
Barbara & Lisa, thanks for the thumbs ups!
Maddy, love this idea too. It is so easy, even for me, to speak negatively about oneself.
Thumbs up for all the great comments!!
Here are a few ideas about Behavioral Intervention Plan that might help:
http://momsofspecialneedschildren1.blogspot.com/2009/01/behavioral-intervention-plan-bip.html
Supports for Sensory Differences, Anxiety, and Emotional Differences
Here is a list of ideas to help reduce stress and anxiety related behaviors:
http://momsofspecialneedschildren1.blogspot.com/2009/01/supports-for-sensory-differences.html