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Drining around all the time - Help please?

snufes

Hi everyone!

I am a teacher of a key stage 3 class in a purely autistic school (also challenging behaviour / PDA / OCD) and have a student in my class with a number of vehicle related obsessions, the majority of which we can manage at school.
One behavior that is particularly difficult is that if he goes in his parent's car he insists on them driving continuously around for 3+ hours without stopping often dictacting the route. He displays very challenging behaviour if the parent doesn't let him go in the car or doesn't drive for this long. As you can imagine this is having a real effect on ther parent and family life.

I know it is difficult to offer advice without knowing the student but am really desperate for ideas so I can help.

Many thanks for reading.

  • Hi

     

    Many thanks everyone for these ideas, I am going to pass the comments onto mum and also try and do some social story work with him.

    Unfortunately he hasn't the capacity to tell you why he wants to do this, its probably OCD related. Before he gets in the car you have to shut and open doors in a certain way and he puts his face near the exhaust and will not get in the car until the car is started and he can see exhaust fumes coming out of the car. If he ever sees anyone get in the car he will sit by the exhaust and will not move until the car is started. He is a pretty big chap and you are looking at 5+ people to work through his behaviour that would result if this wasn't followed.

    Thanks again

  • Is he able to explain why he likes the car journeys so much.  My son has obsessions and there are times when he can explain to me why he has to do certain things.

    I know a boy who is absolutely obsessed with roller coasters and would stay on them all day every day which is just not possible but when he can't be on them he watches clips on youtube etc which keeps him happy.  Can the mum perhaps video the journey and let him play it back at home.

  • I think its too difficult to comment on this without knowing more about the family and how they currently manage challenging behaviour.  I would recommend getting in touch with a specialist - is there a behaviour team locally who might be called upon?

    Failing that, perhaps the Challenging Behaviour Foundation might be able to support the family http://www.thecbf.org.uk/

    or you might recommend that the family look at something like Positive Behaviour Support http://www.learning-together.info/pbs.html

    Hope that is a good starting point

    Zoe

  • Hi Snufes,

    That's interesting, and not something I have seen before.  I have a few questions, don't put any weight on these as I am not qualified, just keen to help.

    Does this child have any sensory issues, is it possible that the movement of the car is helping with motion sensory issues?

    Is there any underlying reason why a long car journey could be relaxing for this child. Think about a trip to somewhere this child is happy - grand parents, holiday etc.?

    Is there any logic to the directions given, for example repeated trips (question 2 above) to a location or roundabouts etc (sensory again)?

    Have you tried a DVD of a long car/train journey, something like this?  www.youtube.com/watch

    Can't think of anything else right now, I bet this child has some logical reason for wanting to go on these journeys, I hope you find out.