A Quick Ethics Reminder

Hopefully, all educators have had a lesson in ethics -- there are certainly ethics guidelines that you should be following.

As such, I thought it would be helpful to give a succinct brief in ethical practice.

Have you seen all those mugshots over the last two years on Facebook or in your favorite news blog? Have you then read, or made, a comment or two? Well, here's my bottom line...

If you are practicing, in the public- or private-sector, what would the reactions be to your practice if they were posted on YouTube? What if some conniving co-worker took a video, within legal means, of your interactions with a learner and went public? What if a parent, within legal means, were standing outside of your child's classroom or treatment room and listening in? Would they think you were being ethical?

My point not being that you're doing anything wrong, with malfeasance, or out of boredom, but if someone were watching, would you practice the same. And boy, how would your life be if you were the YouTube educator who got caught in a moment of irrational attachment, took it personal, and did something news worthy?

Keep yourself in check. Ethics always come before outcomes.

#DearPrivateEvents -- #Aspirations

#DearPrivateEvents -- What if I were J.A. Hyfler, Psy.D, M.Ed, BCBA-D, OTR/L, SLP, RN, MD, Esq. Whoa. #Aspirations

ADHD and ASD as evolution of the human animal

I've recently been thinking about autism and ADHD and the related symptoms. And I mean this with some serious inquiry, but also with some brevity -- what if these different neuro-biological conditions are an evolutionary step?

What if my attention deficit slows an overwhelming world down in some aspects, for me to be able to process other aspects?

What of my hyperactivity, actually means hyperproductivity?

I suppose the question then becomes, how does this contribute to the actual promulgation of our species? And it may not... But in an increasingly intellectual (not hunting and gathering, or building skyscrapers) society, maybe the symptoms related to ASD and/or ADHD are meant to make us more fit to survive in a world where we don't need to hunt and gather. Where there is PeaPod to deliver your groceries (and I mean your... I can't afford to have groceries delivered). Where advantageous, industrial pursuits are all but unnecessary in an over-developed world that actually needs more natural, green spaces.

I wonder if this isn't why more and more individuals with ADHD or autism are engaged more in the realm of technology and creativity. We can sometimes already be closed off in our own world, so why bother leaving it when we can still contribute, enhance, and thrive? And holy crap, others like it, too, and maybe pay?... Now we are really primed for survival.

I know the basic premise of all this may sound asinine, but I think if you feel that way you A) Don't understand the challenges and gifts of having these diagnoses, and; B) may not really understand evolution. Funny thing is this, for whatever most understand about evolution -- selection by consequences and survival of the fittest (i.e., Darwinian evolution) -- evolution happens as quickly as it does slowly. In fact, when evolution really does occur, it's when the environment and other species compensates for newly selected traits (e.g. Google looking for individuals with Aspergers).

Crazy stuff... What do you think?

#DearPrivateEvents

Proposing a new hashtag, titled #DearPrivateEvents. It's like your personal diary of private events, that we can call as they are.

No thinking, no minds -- no thoughts, no consciousness.

#DearPrivateEvents, thank your environment.

Community Outings

At times, community outings can be daunting for both parent and child alike; however, shaping up success on community outings can help with family cohesion and become increasingly more enjoyable for all involved. Below is some helpful advice on how to make community outings fun and beneficial.

1)      Start small and simple. For example, if you want to go to the grocery store, and the store is typically difficult for your child, only go for a few things
2)      When running errands, bring a list. Don’t just walk around and peruse. Go with explicit purpose
3)      Have an exit plan. Know that if something goes awry, how you’re going to get yourself and child out of the store as easily as possible
4)      Know that if your child has some difficulty with hearing “No,” or “We need to wait,” to plan for those instances
5)      Remember that the goal is for the child to learn. Don’t rush around, make it a meaningful learning experience
6)      Be prepared for people to stare, and maybe even comment to you or your child about their beahavior. In this same instance, don’t be hyper-critical of yourself or the on-lookers. Keep focused on what needs to be learned
7)      Visit the same places often in the beginning. Don’t expect that a successful trip to the small, neighborhood grocery store means it’s time to tackle a large box store. Wait until you feel that they’ve acquired the ability to use their new skills in other environments
8)      Don’t bring other children or siblings in the beginning. Focus on yourself and the child.
9)      Use expectation and preview statements, and use them frequently. For instance, when you pull into the parking lot, stating “OK, we are going into the grocery store for bread, milk, and eggs. Remember to have an inside voice, not to run, and to keep your hands to yourself.”

I hope that this list of advice is helpful. Keeping these things in mind, and remaining calm and focused can make community outings fun, functional, and successful. Good luck!

New podcast on ABA

My most recent interview with special educator and national inclusion expert Tim Villegas (www.thinkinclusive.us) on applied behavior analysis, special education, and what does it all mean?

Enjoy!


http://www.thinkinclusive.us/think-inclusive-podcast-004-what-does-aba-really-mean-with-joshua-hyfler/

An Exercise in Stimming

I was just thinking about Autism Awareness Day/Month/Lifetime, my AD/HD, and what we have decidedly called typical. I think this may be an interesting exercise in not only understanding the potential functions of stimming (stereotypys) but also why they're not so atypical.

1) Sit down and define stimming
2) Remain seated and operationally define any stimming behavior that comes to mind (don't get too specific -- don't need to know "close fingers into a fist, extend arm to 180 degrees, lift arm upwards at 3 MPH, and pull arm down from the shoulder with 40 Newtons of force = fist pump)
3) Make a list of potential stimming behaviors you engage in
4) Take a frequency count of how many times in a day you engage in stimming behavior

Also, keep in mind stimming as it relates to automatic functions (feels awesome AND follows something really cool I did that others recognize and mediate socially), is maladaptive (e.g., I sometimes hum when ice pellets come barreling down onto my face during a Chicago winter, knowing full well this humming won't remove the aversive stimuli), and is also adaptive (forget about getting up and walking around after sitting for a long period of time. How often do you belt out the chorus of a song "out of the blue?").

Again, track all of this. Does this stuff really matter? How badly is it impacting your life? Are you a stim-o-holic!? If so, you don't need help. You need acceptance. But you can't provide acceptance if you are at the same time judgmental.

#GotStim?MeToo