Tip of the Week for March 25th, 2013
Behavioral Self-Management - Part 4
We all struggle to keep our tempers from time to time. And many of us know how hard it can be for children and adults with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to keep calm when they feel upset. "Behavioral self-management" refers to a set of skills that we all use when we are upset about something. These skills help us to maintain appropriate behavior even when we have very strong feelings. It is especially important to teach behavioral self-management to individuals with ASD, starting at a young age.
Behavioral Self-Management for Adults with ASDMany otherwise capable adults with ASD lose their jobs or cannot get a job due to the presence of challenging behavior. Challenging behavior is also one cause of the isolation and lack of friends that common for many adults with ASD. Supporting adults with ASD to develop age-appropriate calming and coping skills can be difficult. However, if you can support the adult to understand how his/her behavior is interfering with specific life goals (i.e. wanting friends or a job) this can help the individual to buy into learning and using behavior self-management strategies. Using concrete examples, video self-monitoring, and metaphors related to the individual's special interests often help individuals to see this connection. This knowledge can then serve as motivation for behavior change.
Book of the Week: Life and Love: Positive Strategies for Autistic Adults. By Zosia Zaks with foreward by Temple Grandin. Autism Asperger Publishing Company, 2006.
"Written for adults on the spectrum and those involved - parents, spouses, friends - this book is divided into two sections: life and love. In the life section, the author describes and suggests concrete ways to deal with some of the issues and problems faced by those on the autism spectrum. Examples include how to accommodate sensory issues, maintain a home, and manage a career. In the love section, instead of focusing on one topic, the author includes a broad spectrum of suggestions for different types of relationships and weaves these together with the core concept of self-esteem."--Publisher's Website. This book is in the SESA Library. You may search the library catalog via the SESA website (http://www.sesa.org), or contact Anne directly by email at afreitag@sesa.org or by phone at 907-334-1301.
Special Event in One Week!!
Saturday, March 30th
11 am to 6 pm
AARC Book Fair at the Anchorage Barnes & Noble.
We will have entertainment, crafts and an information table at the store during those times.
Scheduled to Appear:
- Author Julia Cook will be signing books, giving a parent talk (1:30), and doing a storytime for children (11 am in the children's area)
- Brandy Wendler, MRS. NORTHWEST (INT'L) will present on gluten-free cooking (11 am in the fireplace area)
- Kenny Siebels will play classical guitar (2:30 in the fireplace area)
- Flute & Fiddle (Mary Anne Green and Alice Wright) will play folk music (2:30 in the children's area)
- Rant 'n Raven Morris Dancers, with singer Dawn Berg, will perform (3 pm in the fireplace area)
- Sarah Jane Mason will do an interactive music performance (3 pm in the children's area)
Also: Face painter Kim Kovol will be in the children's area.We'll have a variety of crafty activities, including design your own space suit, design your own t-shirt, and finger-painting.
If you purchase something that day, mention before you check out that you support the book fair (This includes food purchases in the cafe). Barnes & Noble will donate a percentage of that sale to the AARC, and we use that to buy books for libraries around the state. Over the last 5 years the AARC was able to donate over 400 books to Alaskan libraries!
If you can not attend, please support when you order online! Attached is a voucher with a donation code just add that code on any order placed between March 30th through April 4th.
Please join us in 2013 and make this our most successful year of giving toward Autism Awareness!
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