Autism Meltdowns in Children and Adolescents: Practical Strategies for Prevention, Intervention and Post-vention – Kathy Morris

• Techniques to develop self-control and self-management skills
• Essential skills to defuse explosive behaviors and de-escalate meltdowns
• Powerful incentives to change inappropriate behaviors
• Activities for reviewing behaviors when calm
• Case examples with dozens of strategies you can use immediately

Do you work with children and adolescents with autism who exhibit behaviors that interfere with their ability to effectively and efficiently navigate their environment? They appear willful, obnoxious, over reactive, and unfeeling. They lose control of their ability to cope or regulate their behavior, which can send them spiraling into a meltdown. And, you feel frustrated, powerless and helpless after each meltdown.

Drawing on over 40 years of professional and personal experience, Kathy will lead you through dynamic discussion, video case examples and demonstrations providing dozens of strategies you can implement immediately with these children/adolescents—in any setting. Walk away with an array of practical strategies for:

• Preventing and de-escalating meltdowns
• Teaching and promoting appropriate behaviors
• Providing instructional consequences/replacement behaviors
• Developing self-control and self-management skills
• … and more!

1. Discriminate functions of behavior during a tantrum vs. meltdown.
2. Demonstrate the connections and breakdowns between communication, social skills and behaviors.
3. Employ a breathe card and emotions chart to develop self-control and selfmanagement skills.
4. Design optimal therapy/classroom structure to prevent overstimulation and sensory breakdowns.
5. Employ SOCCSS, keychain rules and t-charts to prevent, intervene or consequate targeted behaviors.
6. Utilize surprise cards, change of schedule cues and transition markers to alleviate anxiety.
7. Implement a “system” rather than a person dependent intervention.

Functions of a Meltdown

• Tantrum vs. meltdown
• Stages of a meltdown
• Sensory issues vs. behavior issues
• Meltdown video

Strategies for the Meltdown Cycle: Intervention, Prevention and Post-vention

• Sensory Issues
  • Optimal learning environments
  • Easy-to-use sensory tools
  • Overstimulation and sensory breakdowns
  • Incorporate a sensory lifestyle throughout the day
• Executive Function
  • Increase attention and focus
  • Strengthen motivation and engagement
  • On-task and task completion skills
  • Visual reminders for routines and predictability
  • Visual structure for organization
• Self-Regulation
  • Develop self-control and self-monitoring skills
  • Tools for self-feedback
  • Use high focus and interest areas as powerful incentives to change behavior
• Social/Emotional Communication
  • Communication for positive social interaction
  • Appropriate interactions with their peers
  • First-person stories for positive behavior changes and affirmations
• Explosive Behaviors
  • Recognize the triggers
  • Alleviate anxiety
  • Modeling appropriate behavior
  • Defuse explosive behaviors
  • Decrease maladaptive behaviors
  • Increase appropriate behaviors
• Special Considerations
  • Collaboration with parents/caregivers
  • Strategies for helping the parent/caregiver with grief

Techniques for After the Meltdown

• Strategies for instructional consequences
• Chart appropriate/inappropriate behaviors
• Activities for reviewing behaviors when calm
• Use cartooning to facilitate feedback
• Strategies for providing systematic feedback
• Reinforcement for communication strategies
• Identify feelings and review behavior

Hands-on and Small Group Activities

• Demonstration video
• Small group exercises: Brainstorm appropriate and meaningful replacement behaviors