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Taking your children out on an excursion where everyone has fun can feel like a major accomplishment for any parent. If you have a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a successful outing may be even more of a challenge, but just as much of a necessity. Regardless of a child’s level of ability, participating in community outings is a skill that will ultimately enhance their quality of life. The following is a list of tools that can empower you to tackle any outing:

• Arrive to places right when the doors open in order to avoid crowds. It is best to keep the outing short and leave before the crowds begin to build up. This not only reduces the chances of meltdowns from being over-stimulated, but also helps to ensure greater safety for your child.
• Prepare your child as much as possible. The novelty and unpredictability of an outing can be very stressful for children with ASD. Gather specific information about the location, including pictures, travel time and distance, expected level of crowds and noise, and how long you expect to stay.  Small deviations from these expected scenarios can provide you with some teachable moments.
• Set reasonable expectations for yourself and your child. “Success” may simply be the fact that you managed to go out of the house for 30 minutes.  This also means that you will aim to leave on a high note, before your child’s coping reservoir is tapped out. In this way, you are both more likely to have a positive experience and attempt another outing in the near future.
• Expect mistakes and know that you can’t prepare for everything. Despite your best efforts, there will always be unexpected things that will blindside us. If something catches you off-guard and leads to your child having a meltdown, you have learned a little bit more about his or her needs and capabilities.
• Be upfront and consistent with your child regarding what behaviors you expect and what behaviors will not be acceptable. Write on a piece of paper, in clear and positive terms, exactly what you expect from your child, including a few possible scenarios that will lead to the outing immediately coming to an end. Ask your child to repeat back to you the behavioral expectations.
Putting in the extra effort to prepare your child for an outing in advance will lead to a more positive event, and may increase the likelihood of a successful and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
Working With Autism is located at 16530 Ventura Blvd, Suite 5101 in Los Angeles.  For more information, please call 818-501-4240 and visit www.workingwithautism.com.

Santa Clarita Magazine

Santa Clarita Magazine