likeahuman
New member
On the seatbelt subject: some years back I worked with a young autistic man whose abilities where in many areas on par with Abigail's. He too disliked wearing a seatbelt, and his mother once told me the story of how she got him to wear it as religiously as he still does to this day. When he got big enough to loosen it himself he was still non-verbal (but very opinionated), and since his mother was unsure of his verbal understanding she taught him through action. She drove to the country with the boy, his father with him in the back seat making sure the seatbelt was in place. When they came to a secluded road, the father moved to the front seat and watched the boy from there. The mother started driving, and as soon as the boy unclipped the seatbelt she stopped the car and didn't start it again until the seat belt was in place. It took a few hours, and they later had to "reinforce" the lesson (partifularly when the boy started disobeying on the school bus), but the boy understood the message clearly, and since he loved car rides he learned to accept the seat belt as part of it. He is an adult today and still enjoys car rides, especially in the country side, and happily wears a seatbelt - and is quick to remind anyone else who might forget to clip themselves in by tapping them on the shoulder.
Just adding this to show that there are ways to teach even severly autistic/IDD people. I hope the Maasses realize this one day and start trying.
(Sorry for rambling, guess I was just thinking about this young man. Also hi, I'm new - been lurking awhile tho. Okay, going back into lurking now.)
Just adding this to show that there are ways to teach even severly autistic/IDD people. I hope the Maasses realize this one day and start trying.
(Sorry for rambling, guess I was just thinking about this young man. Also hi, I'm new - been lurking awhile tho. Okay, going back into lurking now.)