calming stratagies

Also get a copy of "Thinking in Pictures" by Temple Grandin, her Chapter on "The Squeeze Machine".  People on the spectrum, because of sensitivity, may not get enough hugging - well that's one theory. But there is a considerable literature about the benefits of not only weighted blankets and weighted clothing, but close hugging chairs etc.

Hi

I am wondering a similar thing about myself. At the moment partiqually at night I am not sleeping because I wake up too hot, but if I have less duvet then I can not feel enough pressure on me to get to sleep! I also feel the need no matter how hot it is to have a blanket and jumper on, which looks a bit silly in summer! I also really like to wear uniforms because they almost always have a blouse, or a polo top at least. Finding clothing with a high collar is hard, and important to me becaue I like how they feel up around my neck! If I could I would happily wear shirt and tie but it's not the most 'cool' look for a teenager and I am at least attemting to fit in. The only reason I tell you all this is to ask if your daughter has had any similar issues? I have only just connected some of these myself right now, but to me writing these makes it clear to me that their may be soething that could help me. 

I am currently therefore looking at waited blankets as a possible solution. I have been doing some research about it and found a few possible sites. My next step is to talk to my mum about buying them. Most of them are from abroad and so in $ but the prices look quit big to me. I also found various waited vest products which I had not heard of but sound equally good (and cheeper) but I'm not sure if it will help me at night. 

To answer your question though it is possible and recognised by the people that make these such products that people with sensory differences need the extra pressure you mentiond to help them keep calm/sit still/calm down/any other use that helps them personally. So I think it might be something you could try as I am doing. 

To me from what I have found so far the ones that look best seem to be products from either http://www.nationalautismresources.com/weighted-blanket.html or http://www.sensorydirect.com/. Their is also another blanket but it appers on 3 sits I have found which I found slightly confusing but that also looks good. If you find anything that looks partiqually good then let me know.

As you mention calming strategies generally I have something else that may insterest you. I have a chewigem which while it has caused a few teasing issues (mainly from adults that are staff at none-autism specific groups and young people at cadets) it is a MASSIVE help. I think almost anything autism related could cause some teasing though-like if we behave differently to the neurotypicals then they teese us. I just accept it and get on with life. I don't spend my time trying to be like everyone else. I am me and happy that way and if something helps me I will use it whatever anyone says! But back to my point about the chewigem. They can be bought from http://chewigem.co.uk/chewigem.html and designed to chew or fidget with to help people with ASD's or similar that need to chew to calm down/keep themselves calm etc.. Just thought this might be something you are insterested in-I think it really helps me. 

Hope this helps
Amy 

Hi - how old is your daughter?  Sometimes it can be difficult to work out the cause(s) of a meltdown.  If you can, tho, then it's possible to avoid some of them by planning in advance to try to avoid triggers.  Have you had an OT assessment of your daughter?  That cd be helpful in deciding what may be useful to help her when she's upset or before she gets upset (which is better, of course).  I know I may be totally off the mark here, but she wasn't upset about the stools in some waly + once she'd rearranged them she felt better??