Do you have experience with severely autistic children?

Question

I am going to have an interview for a job pretty soon. The job is a "personal care assistant" for a severely autistic 5 year old. The boy is 5 years old, non-verbal, on bottles, and still in diapers. Because of my lack of experience, I'm not sure if they would be willing to hire me, but I'm still hoping to get the job. I'm wondering if you have any experience working with autistic children, and if so, is there anything you think you should share with me? Any advice, stories, or descriptions of experience, et cetera?

Answer 1

I have experience with autistic children a few do speak others do not but we are trying to get them to speak. Just be patient because it takes a lot patient.  use cards for communication, lots of pictures, give him transition warnings

Answer 2

My son is 11 and autistic. He is non-verbal and functions at a moderate level.  He understands any one or two step direction you give him, but can not respond verbally in an appropriate manner.    You will need to find out if his parents are looking for an instructor to do discreet trial training or someone to relieve them for respite time (a babysitter), as the expectations would be different.  Either way, his parents will should give you activities they would like you to do with him. Don't expect him to be interested in reading books, coloring, singing songs or other activities a typical 5 year-old may be.  He may enjoy them, he may not and really fight you about them.  Read up about picture exchange communication (PECs) because that is what he is most likely using for communication.  

And most of all good luck!!!!!  Working with him will be rewarding!

Answer 3

Is this in a school setting or a home?

The role can be very different dependent on the setting, in the home you may need to do bathing, feeding, toileting, interactive games, free play etc, and usually following a set routine.

If in the school your role will be structured following a time table, where you will encourage and support the boy to develop his skills, through interactive games, drawing, reading, writing and computer skills and interacting with other students.

Things to keep in mind;

Be aware of sensory overload when going out in public places, as the sounds, touch and smells etc can cause them distress, so should be avoided.

These children have very poor eye contact, so don't push them to, but do encourage him to, especially when you are talking to him.

These children are also very tactile, so be careful when touching him, as he may push you away or pull away from you.

With Autistic children you should only give simple instructions, such as "Timmy sit here please" and point to where you want him to sit. But do talk to him often, saying his name every time you talk to him.

Be very structured & well planned in lessons and or activities, these children like routine, any unplanned changes can and will make them act out, so if there is going to be a change try to warn them.

Tell him what is going to happen for the morning, "Timmy we are going to do computers now" and then "Timmy is going to have play lunch".

Gaols and aims need to be realistic and achievable.

Let him do things at his pace, pushing will cause frustration.

When trying to get him to finish a game or other activity, then tell him "Timmy, time to finish in 5 minutes" and repeat this every minute, so he knows it time to finish (this worked really well for a very Autistic girl I worked with).

If he becomes upset DON'T yell back at him, talk to him calmly and quietly, remove him from the situation if it is noisy or smelly (yes really strong smells can upset these kids).

Learn to recognize signs of building distress, such as hand flapping, or hair twirling, toe tapping etc. In fact ask what these might be from his teachers or parents, and ask what helps to calm him.

Answer 4

Yes, When you go talk to the boy as if he was normal

Mention things that you will do with him, ie. read, sing to him

Anything that will stimulate his mind

Good luck