One of the big questions around FASD is what can be
done? We know there isn’t any cure,
there is disagreement about treatments and there is controversy about
medication. However, if we ask what is
our biggest concern toward our children impacted by FASD, we tend to say coping. In the research I have heard recently, I keep
hearing what doesn’t work, but rarely hear what does work. I have seen in numerous cases what does work
is constant reflection on strategy effectiveness.
In
laymen’s terms, it is basically using science methods to understand
behaviour. If we accept the premise that
all behaviour is communication, then we use experimentation and constant
reflection to determine what that communication is. If I ask my son to turn the TV off and he
yells at me, I document the event, time, place, circumstances, and
language. If this event keeps happening
every time I ask, I will change something and see if it is any more
effective. If I run out of alternatives,
then I am going to ask someone else such as a counselor for suggestions.
Interestingly,
this is not a new strategy for special education. Back in 1994, when I was writing my Master’s
thesis, I referred to the fact the most effective reading programs were the
ones that continually used the scientific method to determine
effectiveness. My family also
consistently reflect on our lives. Any
time we attempt something new, we will evaluate how well we did. If I make cookies and they taste awful, I
will go back to the recipe and try and figure out what I did wrong. If I put an IKEA table together and have
parts left over, I will go back and figure out why. I am constantly thinking about the most
efficient way to drive from one place to another. When I break down these behaviours into each
part, then experiment with different ways to discover the most efficient, I
will eventually find successes. I
believe this is why my daughter Cassie loves the cooking shows because every
chef I have seen is constantly using reflection to create the best possible
dish. Cassie, at some level, recognizes
the familiarity of it. Whenever Sky or
Jacob can verbalize why they acted the way they did, they are using reflection
to discover this.
However, the key is identifying the variables
responsible through experimentation.
Rarely can our children verbally communicate these variables. We know when Sky is short-tempered, Cassie is
crying and Jacob is yelling, something is wrong. We will start tracking their day to find out
what has them out of sorts. We know
anxiety leads to bad decision making, too much talking overwhelms them, rapid
changes make them confused, and boredom leads to impulsivity. We know all of this because we have consistently
used reflection to detect the pattern.
And through experimentation, we have discovered strategies that work for
them in those situations. It is also
important to note that these five concepts will work through the lifespan, but
the way we apply them changes with age or with particular situations. It is also important to recognize a strategy
may work once but then fail to work later due to a slight change in the
situation. Therefore, it is constant
reflection.
1 1) Discrete Trial Teaching is basically simplifying
it. Focus on one thing, accomplish it,
then move onto the next thing. My
children don’t understand time so they just keep going step by step until it is
done.
2 2) Naturalistic Teaching or Discovery
Learning. I love this one. Basically, look at their strengths and use
them as much as possible. My son is
great with his iPad so we use loads of apps to help him manage his emotions,
watch videos, voice text his writing, use pictures to describe and listen to
stories.
3 3) Pivotal Response Therapy takes naturalistic
learning a step further. We deliberately
tap into strengths to manage one specific identified behaviour from using
reflection. My daughter Sky really
struggles with speaking to strangers.
But if an unknown fair judge asks her about her cow, she can be very articulate.
4 4) Token Economy or Bribery – Yes, it works if
you can find the right motivator. If I
tell Sky or Jacob I will let them have a favorite snack if they do what I ask,
they will do it.
5 5) Contingent Observation or Good modeling- We
actively seek and encourage relationships with peers who provide good modeling
for them. And we are discovering if
these friends are consistent in their relationship with our children, everyone
tends to do well.
There are other strategies obviously, some of which
will work and others that clearly do not.
For us, though, these five have proven to be very effective. The key, though, is not to give up. My old basketball coach used to say the only
way we lose is if we quit. Otherwise, we
just didn’t have enough time. So just
don’t quit and you will find the solution.
You may use twenty different strategies before finally finding the one
that works for your child. But there is,
most certainly, at least one that will work.
