E-Book Overview
In a chaotic or threatening situation, fear is the primary emotional response of an autistic individual. Often the initial physical response is to freeze. 'Meltdowns', or brain overloads can be scary for the individual with autism, and for the person trying to help if they don't know how to react in this situation. Common coping strategies, such as hand flapping or leg shaking, can be misperceived as being wilful, noncompliant, and uncooperative; and some techniques commonly recommended during times of distress or crisis, such as maintaining eye contact or using light touch, can be counter-productive rather than providing relief.Using the easy-to-remember acronym S.C.A.R.E.D (Safe, Calm, Affirmation, Routine, Empathy and Develop), coined by clinical psychologist Will Richards, this guide offers strategies and practical techniques that will be a valuable reference tool to anyone in a first response position. The authors have created a training programme to explain the autistic experience and mindset, and guide the interventions of first responders to autistic individuals in crisis.
E-Book Content
Managing Meltdowns
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Managing Meltdowns Using the S.C.A.R.E.D. Calming Technique with Children and Adults with Autism
Deborah Lipsky and Will Richards
Jessica Kingsley Publishers London and Philadelphia
First published in 2009 by Jessica Kingsley Publishers 116 Pentonville Road London N1 9JB, UK and 400 Market Street, Suite 400 Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA www.jkp.com Copyright © Deborah Lipsky and Will Richards 2009
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form (including photocopying or storing it in any medium by electronic means and whether or not transiently or incidentally to some other use of this publication) without the written permission of the copyright owner except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 or under the terms of a licence issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd, Saffron House, 6–10 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS. Applications for the copyright owner’s written permission to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to the publisher. Warning: The doing of an unauthorised act in relation to a copyright work may result in both a civil claim for damages and criminal prosecution.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Lipsky, Deborah. Managing meltdowns : using the S.C.A.R.E.D calming technique with children and adults with autism / Deborah Lipsky and Will Richards. p. ; cm. ISBN 978-1-84310-908-2 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Autism. 2. Crisis intervention (Mental health services) I. Richards, Will (William S.) II. Title. [DNLM: 1. Autistic Disorder--psychology. 2. Autistic Disorder--therapy. 3. Crisis Intervention--methods. WM 203.5 L767m 2009] RC553.A88L57 2009 616.85'882--dc22 2008025252 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 978 1 84310 908 2 ISBN pdf eBook 978 1 84642 917 0
Printed and bound in Great Britain by Athenaeum Press, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear
Contents
FOREWORD
7
Introduction
13
Frequentl