Chores. Teaching a child to do chores not only gives him independence, but also makes the statement to siblings that everyone contributes to the household. Both books mentioned above have ideas for you to try. Desensitizing. Some children with sensory processing issues have a terrible time getting their hair cut, their teeth checked by the dentist, wearing a hat, and so on. Teaching a child to get used to an item or sound little by little is helpful. Anyone who has a practical knowledge of applied behavior analysis (ABA) can devise a system. One on One by Marilyn Chassman has a good section about how to teach your child to tolerate stimuli that are difficult for him. Behavior plans. These are an important part of making life easier at home and teaching a child responsibility for his actions. Again, these are ABA techniques and Steps to Independence by Baker and Brightman has a section on them. Social skills training. Children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) need to be taught social skills in order to participate in activities with other children. Safety training. Many children with ASDs do not have any notion of safety and this needs to be taught to keep your child safe. Dangerous Encounters: Avoiding Perilous Situations with Autism by Bill Davis and Wendy Goldband Schunick has some good suggestions for all types of safety issues at home and in the community. The Autism Society of America website (www.autism-society.org) has a useful section entitled “Safety in the Home” that explains how you can make your home a safer environment for your child. Other issues. For some of the above concerns mentioned and other issues, you may wish to consult Overcoming Autism: Finding the Answers, Strategies, and Hope That Can Transform a Child’s Life by Lynn Kern Koegel, Ph.D., and Claire LaZebnik.
