Positive Behavior Supports- Preventing Behaviors

Know the Characteristics

There are Several Characteristics of Autism that Could Affect Behavior:

• Insistence on sameness; resistance to change

• Trouble reading social cues from others

• Difficulty in expressing needs; uses gestures or pointing instead of words

• Laughing, crying, showing distress for reasons not apparent to others

• Tantrums

• Sensory Differences or sensory avoidences

• Unresponsive reactions to typical teaching methods

• Inappropriate attachments to objects

• Apparent over-sensitivity or under-sensitivity to pain

• No real fears of some forms of danger or unrealistic fears of typical events

• Noticeable physical over-activity or extreme under-activity

• Uneven gross/fine motor skills

• Not always responsive to verbal cues

Understanding these characteristics should impact the way adults interact with individuals with autism.  Adults should be willing to be flexible and meet the child “half-way.”

Use Preventive Measures to Promote Positive Behaviors In the Classroom

• Class structure
• Consistent routines
• Pre-made and prepared activities with all materials present
• Pre-assigned roles and responsibilities throughout the day
• Visually labeled areas of the classroom
• Expectations made clear by using symbols or words
• Use of visual schedules for various activities
• Individual student schedules to allow for independence and ownership
• Investigate More Specific Positive Supports You Can Use TODAY!

View Behavior Supports Links:

Understanding Problem Behavior- An Interactive Tutorial from OSEP

Addressing the Challenging Behavior of Children With High-Functioning Autism/Asperger Syndrome in the Classroom: A Guide for Teachers and Parents-Book

Functional Behavior Assessments and Behavior Intervention Plans e-book ($1.00)