Letting Go of Control and Rethinking Support for Autistic Individuals | Amy Laurent | TEDxURI

TEDx Talks

7 Mar 201919:11

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThis speech by an occupational therapist reflects on her initial apprehension and misconceptions about working with autistic children, influenced by prevailing theories of the time. She recounts her journey from attempting to suppress 'autistic behaviors' to recognizing their functional nature and the importance of emotional regulation. The therapist emphasizes the need to honor and understand the unique experiences of autistic individuals, advocating for a shift from behavior management to supporting emotional regulation and neurodiversity, as shared by autistic adults themselves.

Takeaways

📚 The speaker started as an occupational therapist with no prior experience working with autistic children and faced concerning themes about autism from early readings.
🧩 Dr. Ivar Lovaas's theory suggested that children with autism needed to be 'built' from scratch, which included stripping away behaviors deemed 'non-functional'.
🤔 The speaker questioned the effectiveness of behavior management plans, especially when they observed that the behaviors were functional and part of the children's identity.
🎈 During play sessions with Corrie, the speaker noticed the joy and functionality in the behaviors that were supposed to be 'extinguished'.
🚫 The speaker was relieved of the responsibility to implement the behavior management plan due to their inability to inhibit the very behaviors they were engaging in.
🧠 The script emphasizes the importance of understanding autism as a result of neurological differences, rather than something to be 'fixed' or 'extinguished'.
📊 Research supports the idea that individuals with autism experience heightened reactivity and states of arousal, which can lead to behaviors that are a response to sensory, social, and cognitive demands.
🌐 The voices of autistic adults are clear in stating that attempts to extinguish autistic behaviors are flawed and can lead to serious emotional and psychological harm.
🔄 The shift from behavior management to emotional regulation is advocated, focusing on teaching new tools and strategies for individuals with autism to navigate their experiences.
🤝 The speaker calls for a partnership approach that includes scaffolding skills, recognizing individual strengths, and making environmental accommodations.
🌟 The script concludes with a call to respect, support, and empower autistic individuals, learning from their unique experiences and perspectives.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial experience with autism before working as an occupational therapist?
-The speaker had no prior experience with autism, having never worked with or even met an autistic individual before taking the job.
What concerning theme did the speaker encounter in the literature about children with autism?
-The speaker found a concerning theme that children with autism were described as 'empty fortresses' and 'unfeeling,' living in 'emotional blindness,' which was put forth by Dr. Ivar Lovaas.
What was the behavioral management plan's approach to dealing with autistic behaviors?
-The behavioral management plan involved using a token board to discourage 'non-functional' and 'disruptive' autistic behaviors, such as jumping, spinning, and hand flapping, which were considered 'stims'.
How did the speaker's first encounter with Corrie, an autistic child, challenge the behavior management approach?
-The speaker observed that Corrie's behaviors seemed functional and part of his excitement, leading to the realization that these behaviors might not be as disruptive as initially thought.
What was the speaker's realization about the focus on extinguishing autistic behaviors?
-The speaker realized that focusing on extinguishing autistic behaviors was flawed and potentially damaging, as it did not address the underlying neurological differences and sensory processing issues.
What are some risk factors for dysregulation in individuals with sensory issues?
-Risk factors for dysregulation include noisy environments, tags on clothing, overly bright lighting fixtures, social environments focused on interaction, executive functioning challenges, and a lack of predictability or control over the environment.
How do the voices of autistic adults challenge the traditional approach to behavior management?
-Autistic adults argue that extinguishing autistic behaviors is not only ineffective but also harmful, emphasizing the need to understand and support the unique neurology of each individual rather than trying to make them appear neurotypical.
What is the proposed shift from behavior management to what approach?
-The proposed shift is from behavior management to emotional regulation, focusing on teaching individuals with autism new tools and strategies to navigate their days successfully and regulate their strong emotional reactions.
How does the speaker describe the importance of recognizing and supporting neurodiversity in educational practices?
-The speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing and supporting neurodiversity by focusing on skill development within the autistic individual, empowering them to navigate their days successfully, and accommodating their unique neurological differences.
What is the final message from the speaker and the autistic adults they work with?
-The final message is to let go of control, not try to change autistic individuals, but to learn from them, respect them, support them, and empower them.

Outlines

00:00

😌 Embracing Neurodiversity: A New Occupational Therapist's Journey

The speaker, a newly qualified occupational therapist, begins their career working with children diagnosed with autism. Initially, they encounter prevailing but concerning views from Dr. Ivar Lovaas, suggesting that children with autism are like 'empty fortresses' and require 'behavior management' to strip away 'non-functional' behaviors. The therapist is handed a behavior plan for their first client, Corrie, which includes a list of restricted behaviors. However, during play, the therapist notices that these behaviors seem functional and natural, leading to questions about the validity of the behavior management approach and sparking a curiosity about the true nature of autism.

05:01

🧠 Rethinking Autism: Understanding Sensory and Social Differences

The narrative shifts to challenge the traditional view of autism as a deficiency. Autistic adults assert that their behaviors are not just symptoms to be extinguished but are rooted in sensory, social, and neurophysiological differences. The speaker discusses risk factors for dysregulation, such as noisy environments and social pressures, which can lead to heightened reactivity and behaviors that may seem disruptive. Research is cited to support the idea that these behaviors are a natural response to an overwhelming sensory experience, and the speaker calls for a deeper understanding of the autistic experience rather than a superficial focus on behavior modification.

10:03

🚫 Moving Beyond Behavior Management: The Call for Emotional Regulation

The speaker emphasizes the need to move away from behavior management strategies that aim to make autistic individuals appear neurotypical. They argue that such an approach is flawed and can lead to damaging outcomes, including increased anxiety and a sense of lost identity. Instead, the focus should shift to emotional regulation, where individuals are taught new tools and strategies to navigate their experiences successfully. The speaker advocates for recognizing and supporting the unique neurology of autistic individuals, empowering them to lead fulfilling lives and maximizing their potential.

15:05

🤝 Fostering Partnership and Accommodation: A Paradigm Shift in Autism Support

In the final paragraph, the speaker calls for a paradigm shift from behavior management to a partnership approach that honors and acknowledges the unique experiences of autistic individuals. This includes teaching emotional regulation strategies and making environmental accommodations to reduce overwhelming sensory input. The speaker shares personal insights from autistic adults, emphasizing the importance of support and understanding rather than attempts to change or control. The narrative concludes with a call to action for educational practices to evolve and to learn from the voices of autistic individuals, promoting a more inclusive and empowering perspective.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Autism

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. In the video, the speaker discusses their initial misconceptions about autism, influenced by the prevailing theories of the time, which viewed autistic behaviors as something to be 'extinguished' or modified. The script emphasizes the importance of understanding and accepting the unique experiences of individuals with autism.

💡Occupational Therapist

An occupational therapist is a healthcare professional who helps individuals with physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities to engage in meaningful activities. The speaker in the script is an occupational therapist who reflects on their early career, highlighting their initial apprehension and curiosity about working with autistic children and the evolution of their understanding of autism.

💡Behavioral Management Plan

A behavioral management plan is a strategy used to modify or control behaviors, often in educational or therapeutic settings. In the script, the speaker describes receiving such a plan for their first client, which listed 'forbidden' behaviors like jumping and hand-flapping, illustrating the traditional approach to managing autistic behaviors that the speaker later questions.

💡Stimming

Stimming, short for self-stimulatory behavior, refers to repetitive movements or sounds that people with autism often engage in, which can be self-soothing or a response to sensory experiences. The script uses the term to describe behaviors that were once viewed as disruptive and targeted for elimination, but are later understood as a natural part of the individual's way of being.

💡Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity is the concept that neurological differences, including those associated with autism and other conditions, are a natural part of human diversity. The speaker advocates for embracing neurodiversity and shifting the focus from behavior modification to emotional regulation and support, recognizing the unique strengths and challenges of individuals with autism.

💡Emotional Regulation

Emotional regulation refers to the ability to manage and control one's emotions. The video emphasizes a shift from trying to suppress or change autistic behaviors to teaching and supporting individuals in developing emotional regulation skills, which is a more empowering and accepting approach to supporting individuals with autism.

💡Token Economy

A token economy is a behavioral management system where individuals earn tokens or points for desired behaviors, which can later be exchanged for rewards. The script critiques token economies as part of the broader system of behavior management that can be damaging and disempowering for individuals with autism.

💡Risk Factors

In the context of the video, risk factors refer to environmental or situational elements that can exacerbate the challenges faced by individuals with autism, such as sensory overload or social pressures. The speaker calls for understanding and addressing these risk factors to better support autistic individuals.

💡Cortisol

Cortisol is a hormone associated with stress. The script mentions studies showing elevated cortisol levels in individuals with autism during social interactions, highlighting the physiological impact of environmental stressors and the importance of considering these in support strategies.

💡Extinguishing Behaviors

Extinguishing behaviors refers to the process of eliminating certain behaviors through behavioral modification techniques. The speaker argues against this approach, stating that it is flawed and can be harmful, as it does not address the underlying neurological differences associated with autism.

💡Personhood

Personhood, in the context of the video, refers to the recognition and respect for an individual's identity and autonomy. The speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing the personhood of individuals with autism, rather than trying to change or 'fix' them through behavior management practices.

💡Accommodation

Accommodation in this context means making adjustments to the environment or activities to better suit the needs of individuals with autism. The speaker advocates for accommodations as part of a supportive approach that acknowledges the unique experiences and challenges of autistic individuals.

Highlights

The speaker's initial experience as an occupational therapist working with children diagnosed with autism, without prior knowledge or experience.

Concerning themes about children with autism being described as 'empty fortresses' and 'unfeeling' by Dr. Ivar Lovaas, a prominent authority at the time.

The concept of 'child building' and the need to strip away 'interfering behaviors' from children with autism as per Lovaas' theory.

The speaker's first encounter with an autistic child, Corrie, and the realization that the child's behaviors were functional and not just 'autistic behaviors'.

The use of a token board and behavior management plan to discourage 'non-functional' and 'disruptive' behaviors in Corrie.

The speaker's struggle with implementing the behavior management plan and the subsequent relief at being relieved of that responsibility.

The questioning of why certain behaviors are considered problematic and the circular logic of autism diagnosis based on these behaviors.

The realization that focusing on extinguishing autistic behaviors is flawed and does not address the underlying neurological differences.

The importance of listening to the voices of autistic adults who emphasize that their behaviors are a result of sensory, social, and neurophysiological differences.

The identification of risk factors for dysregulation in individuals with autism, such as noisy environments, social pressures, and executive functioning challenges.

Research validating the heightened reactivity and states of arousal experienced by individuals with autism due to these risk factors.

The need to understand the intensity of experiences of individuals with autism and how it leads to explosive behaviors as a form of expression.

The call for a shift in educational practice from behavior management to emotional regulation, focusing on skill development and empowerment.

The recognition that autistic individuals are not a collection of behaviors to be modified but rather individuals to be supported and empowered.

The importance of forming a partnership with autistic individuals, acknowledging their unique experiences, and making environmental accommodations.

The paradigm shift from external control through behavior management to internal regulation and skill development within the autistic individual.

The speaker's personal growth and understanding that autism is a different way of being, learned from her interactions with Corrie and other autistic adults.

The powerful message from autistic adults to let go of control, learn from them, respect, support, and empower them.

Transcripts

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