I wonder if anyone else has been through this, or had any thoughts? We have thought of this so far as a somewhat amusing quirk/game, but today it really hit home that it was becoming a serious problem. We had planned a day out to the Zoo for weeks, there was the Special Needs children's day there today, the Makaton "singing hands" ladies were doing live shows, there were animals to touch, a band, special events etc.
Well, me, DH and DS (ASD, age nearly 4) have just come back from there after just over an hour, with me pretty much in tears and all three of us upset (sorry if any of you were there and were treated to the awful high pitched screaming that went on!). DS had no interest at all in anything at all at the Zoo, in fact he noticed absolutely nothing apart from the sliding doors on the shops and cafes. When taken away from the doors he had a huge meltdown that just would not stop no matter what. I took him to see the Makaton ladies, he did not even notice they were there.
You cannot now take DS anywhere where there is a sliding door without him having to make it open and close incessantly, and if you take him away from it he may have an uncontrollable meltdown (not always by any means, but often). This means problems in shops, clinics, hospitals, leisure facilities, even walking along streets etc. Shop managers and people in buildings where there are sliding doors generally do not like a toddler standing opening and closing the door incessantly! It is a nuisance and sometimes a serious safety hazard, in their eyes.
He can get to the point where it seems nothing else exists in the world but The Door and the desire to get to The Door.
Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.
SN children
Door obsession
theDudesmummy · 19/05/2013 13:41
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