Suggestions for window coverings for a disabled teen who tends to break things

[Geneticsbunny]

I have a 14 year old, who is basically like a giant very strong 5 year old. We currently have Roman blinds in his room but he has pulled them down so many times that the mechanism is on its last legs. Curtains aren't an option because he will just pull the rail out of the wall. Does anyone have any suggestions, no matter how weird, of something that he can open and close by himself but that are reasonably untrashable?

Try contacting specialist like https://www.toughfurniture.com/case-studies/robust-furniture-for-an-autism-friendly-bedroom-kates-story/

You might be able to apply for grant or funding eg local rotary etc

How about something like this? They do regular and large sizes, and it sticks on with suction cups.

www.argos.co.uk/product/9434055?clickPR=plp:1:2

Could you put roll down shutters on the outside of the window? They can be electric and controlled by either a light switch type thing or a remote control if you don't think he'll trash it.

Solid internal window shutters, would have to swing on them to break them and very easy to operate.

Electrically operated roller blinds?

Does he wilfully pull curtain rails down or is it that he leans on them when trying to get them to slide along?

@cestlavielife that looks amazing. Will have to think about whether something like that will work with our windows.
@Flubadubba we have one of those but putting it up and down every day i don't think is all that practical, he won't let us leave something up all the time. Also he wouldn't be able to put it up himself and he will just get changed naked Infront of the windows and not think to ask us..
@CatherinedeBourgh loving the lateral thinking but we are in a conservation area and it's a listed building so that would last about a week before we got told to take it down.
@DrySherry that is literally genius. We have shutters downstairs. I can't believe I didn't think of it.
@violetqueen6 another possibility. I need to think whether he would pull them when they are down? Will have a think.
@Ohthatsabitshit he willfully pulls them down when he is really angry/extremely distressed. We haven't totally work out what is going on and it's an evolving situation. He will probably grow out of it at some point as it's only been going on for a year or so.

So far I think shutters are the best option. Might try to make some cardboard shutters and see how those work first.

Mumsnet is so much better than chat gpt. Thanks everyone.

Do you make him pay for broken things? Eg take his pocket money away, or extra chores for broken stuff? He will quickly learn not to break things.

What an unhelpful comment. He's profoundly autistic and experiencing meltdowns.

I think cardboard shutters are a good idea. (I have a similar young man at home). But the downside will be that if he does pull them they will come down.
There are blinds that you can get in between the glass in double glazing or you could consider ones outside the window like they have in Europe.

He isn't autistic. He has a genetic syndrome. But thank you for defending me.

@LavenderFields7 would you discipline a 2 year old who was breaking things having a tantrum this way? He has no concept of money and doesn't have any control over his actions when he is like this. He is having trauma related panic attacks because of how traumatic COVID lockdown was for him and we think this might be part of that. Like I mentioned. It is very complicated and we are still unpicking exactly what is going on and why it is happening but he definitely has no control over his actions when this is happening so "consequences" would be completely inappropriate.

Can you put privacy film on the windows so if he does change naked by the window people can’t see in?

@crumblingschools film won't work unfortunately. Because he likes to look out of the window, so would probably smash it to be able to see out.

@Ohthatsabitshit we are listed and in a conservation area so no external blinds or double glazing allowed but there might be a way to retrofit something similar onto our existing windows.

As a cheapish and perhaps temporary solution how about something like this:
https://easyblinds.co.uk/products/easynight-blackout-blind-for-home?srsltid=AfmBOoo3I8vGbH3PxIOMHbKGffOazjmE-oB07i3lLwmeEESWAsfJSrvP]] (white/cream also available)

basically you put command velcro strips round the window frame and then cut a piece of fabric to fit, the fabric is special fabric that attaches easily to the velcro & comes off again without pulling.

He would be able to get it off by himself easily, whether he can put it back depends how tall he is and how high the window goes

Privacy film can be one way so he can see out but it's mirrored so others can't see in. Doesn't work if the lights are on though

What about frosting the lower half of the windows for his privacy while still be able to see out, perhaps alongside one of the other ideas like shutters?

These are all really good. Frosting or privacy film on the bottom half would probably work and will at least make the issue less problematic in the short term.

You can buy the frosting film really cheaply on Amazon. If you get a pattern he could peep out in the clear bits. (Honestly I think a periscope to look over the top might be very appealing 😆)
I quite like the look of the blackout material someone posted up thread. If it was Velcroed round the edge it wouldn’t be damaged or damage coming down. How to make it look pretty is another matter.

If he is going for something that moves, and is taking its movement to extreme when he has a meltdown, could you consider that he needs that extreme movement to express his frustration? So, rather than prevent that movement, facilitate it? Hang blinds or curtains from velcro so that they come to no harm when he rips them down, cannot hurt him when they fall, and can be easily put back. Putting them back up could eventually become part of him processing his re-regulation.

I was going to suggest privacy film on bottom half leaving a gap so he can see out. I have some in DS bedroom, it’s static so is easy to replace if needed. The one we have is like pebbles & casts rainbows into his room when the sun is on it, he loves it

Are you working g with a behaviour specialist?
Aba consultant was very helpful for this kind of thing but do you have home visits from school?
They should be helping you with this

Where’s the drip feed? It says “disabled” in the thread title and OP explains he is 14 but more like a giant 5 year old.

I think you didn’t read the title.

@GazeboLantern that is very helpful. I hadn't thought of that. I wonder if there is a way to modify his current blind so he can pull them down without breaking them and then we can just stick them up again when they come off? Will have a look at them tomorrow and see what I can come up with.

He is really upset that his blinds don't work at the moment, But is putting up with me saying that I will fix them before the summer holidays.

We have camhs involved. This behaviour will get sorted eventually but in the meantime, I still need a functional window covering plan.

I have to say, I am so impressed with how many good ideas people have come up with. I genuinely thought it would all just be stuff which wouldn't work for various reasons because I hadn't been specific enough with my OP.

I have ordered some window film and one of those extendable poles for net curtains to see if I can hook the blinds up out of the way during the day, but if he pulls them off, won't cause any damage.