Why collect data? What does data collection have to do with your child's behavior(s)?

In my last blog, I explained the term, S.E.A.T. SEAT is a tool to help us understand and root out the cause of a child's unexpected and usually "bad" behavior. Was it a sensory issue, an escape issue, an attention issue, or a tangible issue that led up to a behavior?

S.E.A.T.

What does S.E.A.T. stand for and why can it help you evaluate your child's behaviors?

S.E.A.T. stands for Sensory, Escape, Attention, and Tangible. It is my understanding that SEAT is a tool used to help understand your child's behavior by attempting to break down undesirable behaviors. SEAT helps you discover the purpose or reason or explanation behind a behavior, or why it occurred and what lead up to that behavior.

Why is this important?

Autistic kids are visual learners. They often understand and can handle visual input much better than they can absorb visual or auditory words. Our child has been receiving autism-related services since he was fifteen months old. We learned a long time ago how to help him when he's struggling, we use pictures.

One way was social stories. What is a social story?

A social story is a tool used to help a child who struggles to understand their social world. Social stories do this by showing a child a social situation explained in pictures.

Our child will lose a service at the end of February. We are mourning this upcoming loss. I am especially upset by it, not only because my child is losing the structured opportunity to play with a child who has become his friend over the last two years, but also by the way it all came about.

The facility notified me in November that my child's funding had lapsed. To my astonishment, my child had been on a 30 day contract during that month.

How do you talk to your child with autism when a member of his immediate family is about to have major surgery?

My husband had major surgery six years ago but our child was only two. We didn't really have to involve him. When he just had the same surgery last week, my husband and I had to come up with a strategy on how to tell and involve our now eight-year-old child.

What did we do?

How do you deal with the sometimes colossal tantrums of your child with autism? What about the mild tantrums? Are you able to recognize the buildup before a tantrum? Can you predict a tantrum? For example, if you know the news you are about to give your child is not going to be well-received, do you cringe in anticipation of an oncoming tantrum?

Fading out your child's school aide.

I began this year thinking hard about the grade my child was entering...third grade. Third grade is a big step up from second grade. For example, my child now brings homework home nightly instead of weekly. And, third grade is only one year away from when his class size will greatly increase (in fourth grade).

In my last post, I discussed how an "earnings chart" can help children with special needs. This week, I want to tackle our "communication log," which is directly linked to our son's earnings chart.

Do any of you use some sort of "earnings chart" for your child on the autism spectrum?

Back when our child received DTT services 14 hours a week in our home, his DTT supervisor encouraged us to begin to use a behavioral earnings chart. During this time, our child was having too many tantrums and/or issues with compliance. Often, he would have these problems in relation to not getting a preferred item.

My son marched in his first parade this past weekend. The Montrose/Glendale area in California hosts an annual Holiday/Christmas parade in their "old town" section. It is generally a "local" event that features high school bands, local community service groups, and even a politician or two. Santa flies over the parade in a helicopter (Santa's a big hit!).