Facing Challenges with Autism.
4 tips from tanya
Toggle between the 4 main tips Our founder, Tanya Hines, wants to share with you based on her own long-term experience with Autism.

Stay Consistent
Being consistent ALL the time or as much as possible is necessary.
Try to Understand
Understanding why the behavior is occurring: Many times challenging behaviors are caused by sensory needs or lack of communication.
Establish Communication
Establishing communication is a must. You must be able to communicate your expectations, and they must be able to communicate and express themselves. This can be; verbal, AAC device, PECS, or sign language.
Redirect Behavior
Redirecting challenging behaviors to something more appropriate.
General Resources for Facing Challenges with Autism
Aggression
Autistic children are often misunderstood. What may be perceived as an angry outburst might be rooted in communication difficulties, anxiety, and stress.
People with autism are often creatures of habit who like predictable structure and schedules. A disruption to routine, unplanned changes, and trouble communicating effectively can all be unsettling, and this can sometimes lead to outbursts of anger.
Autistic children may lash out in anger when they are unable to express themselves. Aggressive or self-harming behaviors can also be patterns of repetitive actions that are hallmarks of autism.
While autism-related anger and aggression can be scary for everyone involved, therapy can help a lot. By improving communication and social skills, and regulating potentially harmful repetitive behaviors, therapy can help to reduce aggressive actions and help autistic children to better regulate their emotions, including anger.
In many cases, applied behavior analysis (ABA) can reduce the frequency of this behavior.

5 tips for Preventing Aggression
Stay calm:
This is the first and most important thing. Most aggressive outbursts happen because your child has feelings building up and can’t communicate them. By managing your own feelings and staying calm and quiet, you won’t add your emotions to the mix.
Limit what you say:
During an outburst your child will be feeling very stressed. It’s hard to process what someone else is saying when you’re feeling stressed, and this is especially true for autistic children, who can have trouble understanding language.
So it can help if you don’t say too much. Aim for short phrases or even just a couple of words – for example, ‘Sit down’ rather than ‘Lachlan, come over here and sit down’.
Move your child to a safer place:
For everyone’s safety, make sure your child isn’t close to anything that could be harmful – for example, shelves that could fall over or glass objects. A quiet enclosed space outside might be an option. You might also need to get other people to move out of the way for safety.
Consider visual cues:
Visual cues can help in these situations. For example, you might have a picture of a quiet place in your home that your child can go to.
physical restraint:
If you find you have to use physical restraint when your child has an aggressive outburst, speak with your child’s paediatrician or a behavioural therapist about other options. Physical restraint can be dangerous to both you and your child, and can often increase your child’s anxiety and make the situation worse. Positive behaviour support is always preferable to physical options.
Bullying
Today, bullying is a national epidemic causing significant concern for parents and caregivers. Approximately one in three kids are bullied in hallways, classrooms and during school related activities each year. Media reports show widespread examples of victimization suffered by kids of all ages and ability levels. More troubling – students living with autism spectrum disorder are 63 percent more likely to be recipients of bullying behavior than typically developing peers. All children, regardless of ability, deserve to learn in a safe and nurturing environment where positive relationships are cultivated. Kids have a right to feel cared for and protected in school.
Adults are in no way immune to the problem. One in six has experienced bullying behavior in the workplace according to one report. Fear of income loss discourages individuals from reporting incidences or intervening on behalf of victims. With employment opportunities at a premium in the disability community, people with special needs are more susceptible to on the job bullying behavior with little to any recourse. Effects are far reaching; violence and intimidation cause harm to victims leaving support systems to cope with the aftermath.

3 Helpful Tips for bullying & Autism

Support your child:
Being the target of bullying is never your child’s fault. As parents, it’s your responsibility to help your child understand this and to encourage them to tell a teacher or staff member when others are purposely mean to them. You can help your child learn ways to manage bullying – and build their coping skills by:
- Teaching them to adjust their response according to the severity of what is happening (i.e., when a child is bothering them versus bullying them).
- Role-play how to speak up assertively: “Hey, stop. Leave me alone.”
- Practicing the words your child can use to get help from an adult.
You can also help your child build their self-advocacy skills by offering them scripted phrases they can use, such as:
- “Everyone’s mind works a little differently.”
- “I just get overwhelmed, but I’m working on it.”
- “These kinds of things take more time for me to figure out.”
Know when to intervene:
Adult intervention is always needed when bullying occurs – especially for youth with ASD. Reach out to school leaders and keep your child’s educational team informed and involved.
Together, you can create a safety plan, which may include:
- In-service education for school staff to explain your child’s disability and vulnerability to bullying
- Peer education to help classmates better understand your child’s disability
- Positive bystander training for classmates
Self-Advocacy:
Check out our page on Autistic Self-Advocacy for more information by clicking here.

Destruction of Property
Behavior problems are common for individuals having a dual diagnosis of Down syndrome and autism. Speech deficits hinder a person’s ability to communicate wants and needs, leading to these challenging behavior problems. As I’ve mentioned in previous blogs, every behavior even the bad ones, are an attempt to communicate something. For the past 24 years, I have experienced this on the front lines with my son Nick, who has a dual diagnosis of Down syndrome and autism. It’s important to get a clear picture of what is triggering the problem behavior. To do this, try taking a step back and determine what is causing the behavior.
For individuals with a dual diagnosis of Down syndrome and autism, some challenging behaviors include property destruction (such as dropping, throwing, dumping things on the floor, and breaking objects). Other behaviors might include elopement, dropping and plopping, stimming, yelling, repetitive movements and physical aggression to name a few
preventing tips for Destruction of Property
Self-regulation:
Then my son was very young, he had poor body awareness and often seemed to go from 1 (calm) to 5 (full meltdown) quickly. He might be calmly playing with a peer and then suddenly pushing them to the ground. We found that working with an occupational therapist experienced with sensory integration was helpful. When my son got revved up, we had to find ways to help him calm down. Under the supervision of a private occupational therapist, we used oral motor sensory objects (examples: chewy candies, gum, and chewy tubes), weight-bearing activities (pressing on the wall, weighted blankets, weighted vests, and heavy work), and exercise (jumping on a trampoline, swinging, running in place, jumping to the sky and touching the ground, and rolling on the floor) to work on self-regulation.
Replacement behaviors:
Sometimes if we understand the function of a behavior, then we can assist the individual in replacing the behavior with something more desirable. For example, my son might tear up a homework sheet or break his pencil while working on his schoolwork. What my son was trying to communicate was that he was frustrated with his homework. Though he was verbal, when he was overwhelmed, his verbal skills disappeared. At that moment, he didn’t have the ability to use his words to ask for help. We learned that if we first provided him with a visual card to ask for help and provided him with homework expectations (“You need to do two problems,” or “You need to work for 10 minutes and the timer is set”) then he was much less likely to rip up his homework sheet and break the pencil.
resources:
If you need more support in managing behaviors, here are some people or resources you might consider:
- Teachers
- Special education staff at your child’s school or at the central office
- Pediatrician or primary care doctor for a referral
- Psychologist
- Psychiatrist
- Applied Behavior Analyst: Find a board certified behavior therapist at www.bacb.com.
- Contact your MCO: My son has benefitted from a service called Specialized Consultative Services.
Staying Healthy
Fitness, nutrition and sleep are three areas of life that are vital to a person’s overall health and wellbeing. Unfortunately, Poor physical fitness, feeding and gastrointestinal issues and sleep disorders are all very common among children and adults on the spectrum. Oftentimes challenges in these three areas can be exacerbated by the other difficulties associated with autism.
It might seem overwhelming to you to think about making improvements in fitness, nutrition or sleep. But with a little bit of effort and awareness, you can set your child on a healthier path, which will make life easier and happier for you, your child and your family.
View More Tips Below.
It might seem overwhelming to you to think about making improvements in fitness, nutrition or sleep. But with a little bit of effort and awareness, you can set your child on a healthier path, which will make life easier and happier for you, your child and your family.
View More Tips Below.

Tips for Keeping Everyone healthy
Create opportunities for your child to be successful:
It is much easier to reward a child for exhibiting a positive behavior than to punish him for doing something that is inappropriate. Set your child up for success by making it easier to do the “right thing.” Create a healthy home in which healthful foods are the only option. Make physical activity the norm by always walking to school.
Eat family meals:
Prepare one meal for the whole family to help your child learn what a balanced meal looks like. While many children with ASD prefer a specific and limited number of food items, it is important that they be offered a variety of foods. When other family members model healthy eating behaviors, a child is apt to learn to eat in a similar manner. The family meal also helps the child to become an integrated member of the family. Keep mealtimes calm and free of distractions.
Include at least one food the child likes at meal times and one “new” food:
Many children with ASD are very picky eaters and would be content eating the same foods at every meal. Help a child learn to like a wider variety of foods by offering at least one food that the child likes as well as one “new” food at each meal. Remember that it takes 15 to 20 times for the average child to like a previously rejected food. It can take even longer for children with ASD. Increase the chances of acceptance by offering the “new” food repeatedly on consecutive days paired with a food the child already likes

Learning
For some children, Autism and learning disabilities share overlapping symptoms. Despite this, autism is not a learning disability. Traditionally, the fact that the two disorders—both neurodevelopmental—have similarities has confused even doctors and educators. As we study, research, and observe, our understanding of both autism and learning disabilities increases. Is autism a learning disability? It isn’t. The two conditions are separate disorders. A child can have both, though, or they can have just one. Let’s explore autism and learning disabilities to learn how they affect kids. earning disability is a lifelong disorder diagnosed in childhood. Around 4 in 10 autistic people have a learning disability. A learning disability affects people in different ways. Common difficulties include: adapting behaviour to different situations, interacting with others, controlling behaviour. Scientists have found genetic differences in both autism and learning disability making it likely that the two conditions are related.
4 Tips to help Your Autistic Child Learn
Keep things in perspective:
A learning disability isn’t insurmountable. Remind yourself that everyone faces obstacles. It’s up to you as a parent to teach your child how to deal with those obstacles without becoming discouraged or overwhelmed. Don’t let the tests, school bureaucracy, and endless paperwork distract you from what’s really important—giving your child plenty of emotional and moral support.
Become your own expert:
Do your own research and keep abreast of new developments in learning disability programs, therapies, and educational techniques. You may be tempted to look to others—teachers, therapists, doctors—for solutions, especially at first. But you’re the foremost expert on your child, so take charge when it comes to finding the tools they need in order to learn.
Be an advocate for your child:
You may have to speak up time and time again to get special help for your child. Embrace your role as a proactive parent and work on your communication skills. It may be frustrating at times, but by remaining calm and reasonable, yet firm, you can make a huge difference for your child.
Lead by Example:
Your child will follow your lead. If you approach learning challenges with optimism, hard work, and a sense of humor, your child is likely to embrace your perspective—or at least see the challenges as a speed bump, rather than a roadblock. Focus your energy on learning what works for your child and implementing it the best you can.
Non-Verbal Communication
Guiding your Autistic loved one to use non-verbal communication and understand it can effectively can help them thrive during social interactions and in life.

Helpful Tips for Non-Verbal Communication
Shorten Your Speech:
Again, this may seem counterproductive, but many children with autism struggle with a lack of focus. For enhancing language, try shortening your phrases. Especially for any directions you give! If your child struggles with a limited attention span, it may be difficult for your child to follow directions when there are too many instructions.
By shortening phrases and using simpler words you can gain your child’s attention and help them learn simple words and phrases through imitating you.
Imitate Behavior:
Take advantage of imitating the sounds and actions of your child during playtime to encourage talking! Using imitation during play helps a child with…
- Sharing emotions
- Understanding turn taking
- Increasing attention to a caregiver
- Helps a child take an interest in a caregiver socially
But these four benefits of imitation play can be challenging for children with autism. Research studies found that imitation play with autism has a direct effect on their development. For instance, researchers determined that a child who was able to imitate gestures and body movement predicted language outcomes. Many researchers now feel imitation should be a vital part of early therapy intervention for autistic children to enhance their social ability.
Visual Tools:
How do visual tools help a nonverbal child learn to talk? This was the question I had for my own son. Thankfully, a speech therapist explained to me the following benefits of using a picture exchange communication system (PECS).
A PECS system helps a child communicate wants and needs by pointing to an object to “ask” or express what he/she wants or is feeling. Because many children with autism are visual learners, a PECS system makes it easier for a child to use nonverbal communication like pointing or handing a flashcard to someone to explain what they are needing. This results in less frustration for both nonverbal children and their caregivers.
Socialization:
View the socialization section on this page for more information on resources regarding socialization and Autism.
Over-Stimulation
Children with Autism can frequently become overwhelmed or overstimulated by situations beyond their control. As caregivers, teachers and therapists we may not always know the cause of their discomfort so its important to have a toolbox of calming strategies to help kids calm down, refocus and get back on task. Furthermore, you can prepare for a potentially stressful event by allowing a child to choose a calming activity and use it before the event and to calm down afterward. Below is a list of common calming techniques you can use with the autistic children you support.
Use the rule of one when a child is deeply stressed, anxious or in the middle of a meltdown. Have only one person talk to the child with autism and ask them to do only one thing. Unfortunately, most school models of crises call for bringing in lots of people, lots of people that start talking at once. Rather than calming a situation down, this can escalate it.

Tips for Preventing Over-Stimulation
Create a plan together:
If you know ahead of time that you are going to an event or outing that will be overwhelming for your child, you can create a plan together so that they know what to expect. Going over this plan with your child before the event can help prepare them and make them feel more in control of the situation. You can include things like:
- What time you will arrive at the event
- Activities you will do when you are there. You may even want to put this in a checklist that they can mark off during the day.
- Social stories to walk them through any new or potentially scary activities
- Scheduled quiet times where they can take a break from the environment
- What time you plan to leave
Use sensory blocking aids:
If you know your child is overstimulated by certain inputs, use sensory blocking aids to reduce the stimulation before it becomes overwhelming. Examples of sensory aids include:
- Sunglasses to block bright lights
- Earplugs or headphones to reduce noise
- A wide brimmed hat to block visual information
- Hand wipes to clean up sticky things
- Chair pads to make hard chairs or bleachers more comfortable
Know your child’s signs of overstimulation:
Keep an eye out for signals that your child is overwhelmed. If you spot any of these signs, check in with your child. It may be time for a self-soothing strategy or a break. Some signs of overstimulation are:
- Rocking
- Covering eyes or ears
- Tensing muscles
- Arm flapping
- Showing aggression or irritability
- Complaining about sensitivity to noises, touch, or other senses
- Refusing to interact with others
- Exhibiting low energy
Use self-soothing strategies:
It’s good to establish self-soothing strategies with your child so that they know what to do when they start to feel overwhelmed. Different strategies work for different kids, so you and your child can work together to find out what helps them cope best. It may be anything from counting to ten, deep breathing, using sensory toys or fidgets, hugs, or taking a walk. When you find strategies that help your child cope, you can practice them together so that they have a game plan when they start to feel overwhelmed.
change the environment:
We all need a break from stressful situations sometimes! When you go to an outing or event, try to find a quiet place with less stimulation where you can take your child if they get overwhelmed. This may be a private room, a bathroom, or even a quiet corner where it is less crowded, noisy, or bright. Tell your child the plan so they know they can take a break if they get overwhelmed. If you notice they are starting to get overstimulated and can’t soothe themselves, stay as calm as you can and take them to the location you talked about. When you’re in a calmer space, their self-soothing strategies may be much more effective.
Learn About Potty Training with Autism

Toilet training difficulties are common among children with Autism. This is most likely due to communication deficits and/or sensory sensitivities.
A child may not able to effectively communicate their need to use the toilet. These children may also have an aversion to the sound of the toilet flushing and may experience anxiety associated with toileting.
Additionally, people with ASD may not be as socially motivated to control their bladder and bowel function as non-ASD people.
View the video by clicking anywhere on the box below!
Interview with Tanya Hines
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Interview with Tanya & Potty Made Possible
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Potty Made Possible specializes in helping families who face all types of potty training challenges. If you feel like you have tried it all, check out Potty Made Possible by clicking the button below.

self-Injury
The equipment on this hospital floor could be found in most school locker rooms: helmets, knee pads, and arm splints. But the gear is not here to protect athletes from sports injuries; it’s used to protect children and teenagers from themselves.
This is the NBU, short for the Neurobehavioral Unit at Kennedy Krieger Institute, a hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. The NBU specializes in treating self-injury and other severe behavior in youth who have autism and developmental disorders. Many of the patients have hit, poked, scratched, or bitten themselves hard enough to hurt.
“Self-injury is a very severe form of behavior that has one of the highest risks of medical injury,” says psychiatrist Roma Vasa, M.D., of Kennedy Krieger. These violent episodes can lead to cuts and bruises, dental problems, broken bones, concussions, and detached retinas, says Eboni I. Lance, M.D., a Kennedy Krieger neurologist who has studied the behavior.
4 triggers for self-injurious behavior (SIB)
Frustration:
Usually a result of the lack of communication abilities. Solution tip: teach functional communication skills. PECS, Communication Device or sign language.
Avoidance:
Avoid or escape an uncomfortable social encounter or instruction. Solution tip: Follow through with the request. Intercede and block behavior for safety reasons. Then continue to follow through with the request, so the child or adult does not learn that SIB gets them out of an activity.
Attention:
In some cases, SIB results from wanting attention. Solution tip: Give positive attention and reinforcement for positive attention.
Sensory Processing:
Difficulties in sensory processing may relate to other behaviors such as SIB. Solution tip: Teach self-advocacy for sensory issues. Recommend seeking help from an Occupational therapist or Speech therapist.
3 tips for Socialization
get involved in activities and community:
View this page for the most up-to-date Autism friendly events and community activities in the Hillsborough County and surrounding area.
Being involved in sports or fitness can also be a great way to socialize, while also producing pain-reducing endorphins, which can lead to better outcomes in social settings. Check out this page for great fitness activity opportunities in the area.
Seek Fun, Autism Friendly, Environments for Care:
Whether you take them to one of our recommended Autism friendly activity spots (click here to view) or your favorite local park, changing their environment can help them further the possibility they can improve their socialization.
You can also consider day programs or babysitting services where your Autistic loved one can be in the care of others, around others, and also give yourself the (well-deserved) break that you may need. View our list of day programs and babysitting services by clicking here.
Teach and Guide Behavior to Help Them Thrive:
When social opportunities are unavailable or if you feel your Autistic loved one is not quite ready to be around others without potentially causing harm to themselves or others, then you can focus on teaching them at home. View the self-injury and aggression resources listed on this page for even more resources on how to help control those behaviors so they can better thrive in social situations.

Transitional Periods
Please click on the below link to view more about transitional periods beyond an Autism diagnosis.
Socialization
It is so important that your Autistic child socializes, learns the cues of others, makes friends and thrives in their community long-term.