How can one redirect an adult or a child with disabilities or behavioral issues?

Question

I am a job coach for a company who works with adults who have behavioral problems as well as disabilities. Do you have any helpful hints in redirecting their attention to something else, or help them understand the do's and dont's. (I'm new at this.)

Answer 1

Don't tell them what not to do - tell them what TO DO.  Matter of fact break down the steps - First....Then.....

Make a checklist they can follow.

Show them the way to do what you need them to do.

I would suggest that you go to the site I included below - it's the Job Accomodation Network.  There are tons of tips, strategies and information specifically for employing people with disabilities.    You may find the SOAR section most helpful.

Answer 2

As everyone is different you would have to treat each person as an individual. Find out what that person likes and what interests them, diverting their attention should be much easier.

Answer 3

first you just co-operate with them and when they are started listening you, you can divert them as u like

Answer 4

Pleae do some reading on Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA)....more specifically on B.F. Skinner's Verbal Behavior.  Every behavior serves a function like access to a preferred item or activity, response to a dnial or delay to a preferred item or activity, etc.  The trick is to teach them a replacement behavior that serves the same function.  This document will help you analyze behaviors and develop replacement behaviors:  http://www.shapingbehavior.com/images/Fu...

And thank you for doing what you do!!!

Answer 5

Remember ABC : Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence:  what happened before and after a behavioral problem? The A and C are up to you, in many cases, so you can often change the B by manipulating the antecedent and consequence.

Try to teach your workers how to express their needs and feelings, so anxieties won't get in the way.  Build in breaks, state things positively, not "That's wrong," but "Let's do it like this".  Some people with devt'l disabilities work best with a schedule, either written (list of tasks) or picture schedule.  The predictability of the schedule takes some anxiety away, thus reducing some behavioral problems.   Start with task-reward (or break, if that is rewarding), then go to task-task-reward, etc, until you develop some "endurance" for the workplace.

Some people prefer less verbal and more pointing or very limited "correction".  My son, adult with autism, does not like being "told" anything. The best way is to "show" him in as limited a way as possible where to work, what to do, redo etc. His best coach just barely points or nods in a direction, or makes a little finger direction, and my son knows that means, work over there, do it  again, more, etc. and it's almost silent, but he gets it.  

This may take days or years to achieve. But like "typical" workers, disabled workers need to learn to be at a job.  Good luck