My Sadness 😢
My sadness stems from the discrepancy between my desires and limitations,
lack of predictability and controllability.
Below are situations that might cause me frustration.
When I feel powerless.
Being powerless is a familiar feeling because I rely on the people around me for my day-to-day activities. My desire for exploration and independence as a young child intensifies that feeling and resulted in anxiety and frustration. My emotional difficulty often starts with teeth grinding and speaking repetitively. It can exacerbate if there’s no relief. My family noticed that keeping me engaged and helping me feel in control can prevent a meltdown.
When I have frequent episodes of dystonia.
In this case, you can change my positions, put me on a mat, or refer to the My Dystonia page for solutions. There will be times we just have to wait for the episode to pass, and that is okay.
When I feel unengaged
Are the group activities applicable to my disability? Can you help me to find ways to be more engaged despite my limitations?
My Behaviors
When I’m frustrated, I display my feelings in the ways below.
I grind my teeth when I’m feeling anxious or excited
I seek sensory input by chewing anything that comes in close contact
I spit out my meal
I bump my head into my headrest
I push objects off my tray when I’m not supposed to
My dystonia or hypotonia intensifies
I raise my voice and talk repetatively
What To Do
Stay ahead of my emotions by keeping me engaged.
Seek first to understand the cause of my behaviors and redirect my energy.
Remove me from the source of frustration and give me some (supervised) space.
Communicate using concise and direct language.
Use positive reinforcement with motivation:
Encouragement especially from my peers.
Treats: I love Kit-Kat
Videos: I’m all ears if you let me watch one of my favorite videos at the end.
Communicate not only your expectations for me but also what incentives I can expect at the end.
Evaluate and adjust strategy.
If my behavior does not improve, limit attention to my behavior.
Be prepared for it to get worse before it gets better.
Acknowledge the efforts I put forth to improve my behavior.
Empower me by giving me supervised control, such as letting me choose the next activities.
Help me be patient by showing me patience—speak to me calmly and affirmatively.
What Not To Do
🚫 Do not use corporal punishment.
🚫 Do not take away my mobility.
🚫 Do not leave me unsupervised.
🚫 Do not speak to me with harsh language.
🚫 Do not isolate me from my peers as a consequence of my behavior.
🚫 Do not withhold meals for behavior. Instead, use a treat as an incentive.
🚫 Do not give attention when he uses bad words.