Meet Susie, an imaginative and spirited 7-year-old with autism. Susie’s parents, teachers, and therapists collaborated to create a Behavior Plan to support her in managing her challenging behaviors and fostering positive growth. Here’s how Susie’s Behavior Plan unfolded and some identifying triggers:
Visual supports: They introduced a visual schedule, using pictures and words to outline Susie’s daily routine. This helped her understand what was coming next and reduced anxiety.
Rewards system: Susie’s Behavior Plan included a rewards chart, where she earned stickers for demonstrating desired behaviors, such as following instructions and using calming strategies. As she collected stickers, she could exchange them for special rewards.
Alternative communication: Susie struggled with expressing her needs and emotions verbally. Her team introduced an AAC app on her tablet to assist her, allowing her to communicate effectively and reduce frustration.
Collaborative approach: Susie’s parents, teachers, and therapists consistently communicated and implemented the same strategies across different settings to ensure a unified approach and maximize the plan’s effectiveness.
Through implementing the Behavior Plan, Susie’s meltdowns during transitions gradually decreased. She started using her visual schedule to anticipate and navigate changes successfully.Â