Special Needs-behaivoral challenges

[Itsallaboutthem]

Does anyone have a history of dealing with extreme behavior SUCCESSFULLY? It reminds me of ODD w/violent behavior (I believe the developmental delay prevents them from realizing they are being violent).

I have experience with ODD, but this type of behavior and developmental delay is new.

I look forward to anything positive you have to say on the subject!

[Blackcat31]

Ugh! That's a tough one. :confused:

I've had my fair share of developmental delays and violent/aggressive behaviors but not in the scenario you are asking about.

Do you have a particular behavior or situation you are dealing with?

[Itsallaboutthem]

Yes, here is the situation and what we have done. Child is school age, has diagnose of DS/ADHD (I am seeing behaviors that remind me of ODD, don't know if it is, nor does it matter as diagnose or not it's the same challenge). Also they have a 1/1 teacher at all times.
We started with the black light room/Joki swing (not a real room it is black curtains to make a boxed out area. Other children with this same medical condition enjoyed this. It is put in their "plan" and approved with licensing.(We had a special needs consultant come in and suggest it for another child).
This child used it like a swing/silks (think gymnastics). So took it down for safety.
We sectioned off a portion of the yard to allow them to throw items (appears to be a need) safely. We kept loosing balls so placed a tether ball in the area and let them hit it with a soft bat (to get the joy of hitting but not loose the balls).
We emptied my office and made a sensory room-with lots of balls, hoop, weighted blanket, fuzzy cuddle blanket soft music piped in and a door with a grid-window so the child is not out of view but can throw the balls without pegging the other children. We bought musical instruments (very talented).
These things work sometimes-but when they don't they don't. The child hits, kicks, throws things (aiming for our heads) all while laughing. The goal is attention, I get this, and they escalate their behavior until I have to give it, for safety reasons. Yes, the other kids are safe and it doesn't interrupt their day as there is other staff.
I hired someone that works with the schools in the special needs field and working on her MA she lasted 3 days. I said, "what do they do at school?" She said, "Call the parent or send them to the principle" okay...well there is obviously some key to managing this behavior, I just need to find it. I have brushed up on my sign language as there is limited verbal. I have P.E.C cards that I have not used, but did make a 6 panel visual chart for exception/consequence with little result (thus no rush to add the P.E.C.).
Before anyone responds "ask parent" I have and gotten limited feedback-they do not seem to have a issue, thus why I feel like he can control it if he wants too, or "throw him out" as I am committed to solving this challenge-I just need help finding the key.
Sorry so long-just figure better to explain it all up front! Cheers!

[hope]

Have you tried a compression suit? I forgot the name of it...starts with a V I think.

[nannyde]

If the parents don't have an issue than that means it is your environment he can't manage without violence. He deserves to be in an environment where he thrives like the environment he has with his parents.

If he is perfectly fine with his parents he doesn't HAVE these issues.

It's like saying "little sally coughs constantly when she is in daycare. As soon as she walks out the front door it stops and she doesn't cough a single time until she walks back into the Daycare the next day."

You can't diagnose her with asthma or bronchitis. If she had them she would cough outside the daycare.

Her coughing IS because of something in the environment at the daycare. She doesn't HAVE a medical condition.

I don't understand why you are caring for him when you know your environment is setting him off to be violent. It's in his interest to be with his parents and your hosting an environment where he goes off means you are saying to the parents that it's ok to take and leave him somewhere where his reaction is violent. It's not ok. They need to do the RIGHT thing by their kid.

He needs to be HOME

[hope]

Have you tried a compression suit? I forgot the name of it...starts with a V I think.

SPIO vest. Occupational therapist would have to give a script for one but it does wonders for attention and comfort.

[Indoorvoice]

You mentioned a diagnosis of DS.. is that Down Syndrome? You also said he is limited verbally. How does he communicate at school and home? I used to be a special ed teacher for kids with developmental delays who were too violent to be in school so I may have some ideas if him staying home isn't an option. I'm just trying to get a better picture of what he looks like.

[Kelly]

Find out if there is an ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) specialist in your area. One of the things they do is look at the environment and the situations that lead up to the behaviors so they might be able to give you some advice. If this child has Down Syndrome he sounds a lot like my son.

[Itsallaboutthem]

You mentioned a diagnosis of DS.. is that Down Syndrome? You also said he is limited verbally. How does he communicate at school and home? I used to be a special ed teacher for kids with developmental delays who were too violent to be in school so I may have some ideas if him staying home isn't an option. I'm just trying to get a better picture of what he looks like.

He communicates with some sign and limited verbal (he can get basic points of needs across but not carry on a conversation). I got him after school was out so parent was not able to tell me if they use the P.E.C. cards.

Yes DS-Down Syndrome. No home is not a option and thus why he has a 1/1 here. I look forward to your ideas-thank you!

[debbiedoeszip]

It sounds to me like he needs more one-to-one care. If he was in school (in Canada, at least), he'd have an aid with him pretty much constantly. He might need a developmental services worker as a daycare provider. His parents might want to be looking into how to access this service.

[Itsallaboutthem]

I don't understand why you are caring for him when you know your environment is setting him off to be violent. It's in his interest to be with his parents and your hosting an environment where he goes off means you are saying to the parents that it's ok to take and leave him somewhere where his reaction is violent. It's not ok. They need to do the RIGHT thing by their kid.

He needs to be HOME

I agree could be the environment-we have as I said made some changes. This is not our first rodeo and we actually tend to be successful. This child is a mix of different and I thought perhaps someone else has had success they would like to share.

Keeping him home? Have you any idea what it is like to take care of a special needs child? It's exhausting, and the parents though I haven't asked most likely need to work as much or a break as for the financial aspect. Sometimes there are people of all ages out there that are a challenge, and you have to figure out what the key is to their success. Passing them off onto someone else (which isn't even a option around this area) is not advice it's judgment.

[Itsallaboutthem]

Find out if there is an ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) specialist in your area. One of the things they do is look at the environment and the situations that lead up to the behaviors so they might be able to give you some advice. If this child has Down Syndrome he sounds a lot like my son.

Thank you for this advice. We have actually been discussing one of taking the ABA training just to have. I will see if we can make that sooner or later if you think it will help. (I associate that more with Autism), I didn't link it to Down Syndrome.

[Indoorvoice]

It sounds like you have provided him with lots of activities and really tried to modify your environment to accommodate his needs. My question is, are these structured activities or is he just given free reign? I think he needs to have a strict schedule with guidelines for each activity spelled out. Since he is limited verbally, use those PECS picture cards to make a picture schedule with a picture for each activity in the order of how you want it done. Mix in preferred activities for him so he can see that after he completes something, he gets to do something he likes. At each activity, you can use the picture cards to make rules and I would probably also make a mini schedule at each activity so he knows when he is done. You can even put the pictures on velcro so he can physically remove them as he completes each activity to make that connection. Routine is key for kids with DS and setting one has always helped behaviors tremendously. When I get to my computer, I will post some examples of what those schedules and rule boards look like if you think something like this would help. I also have some other ideas, but I need my computer, so I'll be back later.

[Indoorvoice]

I was also going to say that I agree with the pp that ABA would be helpful in this situation. It sounds like he has some autistic tendencies which is very common for kids with DS. It's not necessarily autism, but it presents like autism and can be treated similarly.

[Cat Herder]

home is not a option and thus why he has a 1/1 here.

I can see this is a hot button for you, but I can't offer a honest opinion without one question answered. (I do mostly special needs here, just for reference.)

If the parents can afford one to one care in your environment, why can't they afford one to one in his own home?

This is not sarcasm, it is a valid and honest question.