TEACHH ?

[cyberseraphim]

I know TEACHH is commonly used for teaching autistic children in school. I have googled it and looked at some articles but of course there is no substitute for Mumsnet Gospel. What are your experiences of the TEACHH program? What are its strengths and weaknesses ? We use a child led approach at the moment but we have no objection in principle to a more structured approach as obviously this will happen in school anyway. I have not read any rave reviews of TEACHH in the Mumsnet archives but just wondered if there are any more recent views?

sounds like a good system, but it's drawback i'm afraid is that I would have to get organised about the laundry pile 9can't see that happening anytime soon - I count is as a bonus if we all have clean clothes to wear,

Oh I didn't mean with clothes. I just meant somewhere else to associate days and colours. I've been reading quite a bit recently about the problems that people with autism have understanding time and the passage of time. Finding it quite interesting although not sure what conclusions to draw.

Silverfrog - I think it was me that talked about using a 'first X then Y' visual strip with DS2. Now we just say it, like JJ. And DS2 says 'Inaminute! Inaminute! Later!' and cries...
Think he would do the same if we went back to the strip though. He's just going through that stage of wanting everything now. And like your DD, he's realising that he does have control over things, whereas before he would just do whatever I said we were doing (that made me laugh when I read that you'd written that). With ABA trials we're getting this atm
Adult: Show me clapping
DS2: No
Have to really.

It's all so confusing - in the hospital therapy, they keep saying, it's important for DS1 not to become 'prompt dependent' because he can be easily 'programmed' to do tasks.

Apparently this morning ds1 was trying to rush through the morning because he knew they were going riding in the afternoon. In those sorts of circumstances I think a visual strip can be really helpful- to try and apply the brakes.

We've never really had a prompt dependence problem with ds1. I think he's too feral but I know it does happen.

I work for a residential special needs school (mostly severly autistic children aged 5-18) We use TEACCH with our students and we work very closely with the founders of TEACCH who come across from the States every summer to run a training course for parents and staff. Before TEACCH is used with a child the child's level of understanding and ability should be assssed thoroughly. Some students at my school are using very basic pictorial schedules (e.g. photos of now and next) right through to the most able student who uses clocks and writing within a whole day schedule. The students also have schedules on how to complete tasks.

If you're not sure about how it is being approached or why the school is using a certin approach I'm sre that they would be more than happy to explain it. We've had some parents who were upset at us using pictures when their child can read some words but TEACCH has to be able to work when a child is at their 'worst'.

We have found that the parents who have followed the same approach at home as within school have noticed improvements in behaviour and stress levels. And we also help the parents set up the schedules at home and provide them with all the materials required.

I know! Seriously though Electra - what would you do about that? He's not saying it aggressively, just calmly. Would you move on to another trial, or what?

The way we've been told to get over passive resistance is to sit and wait. Don't let ds1 leave, but just wait for him to engage and do the work. Then when he has done, no big praise, just quietly do the next one.

I'm not very good at it. I get too cross and ds1 knows that so stokes it up.

Well he hasn't done it with me (like you, Electra, I've withdrawn from direct teaching) but his tutor said she had a hard time not laughing, because we've been working so hard to get him to say no. I really hope she didn't even twitch a lip, or he'll just keep doing it.

I think sitting and waiting is the best bet. It could well be a reinforcer issue - always a problem with DS2 - but I think it could also be because we're now doing some Floortime as well, where DS2 has the lead, and he's not sure when he's supposed to lead and when to follow iyswim.

He's also started shouting 'NO!!!' at me when ever I tell DS1 off. DS1 is delighted!

oh my friend's daughter is like that. She doesn't like ds1 at all (because he stands in front of her TV or pretends to turn it off) but she had a real go at me one day when she thought I was telling him off