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First/Then

EllenML

I am a SEN Learning Support Assistant to a child with autism. I'm fairly new to education and working with children, and particularly to autism, but have made great progress in the few weeks I've been in my job.

Something I'm finding difficult to get my head around, however, is the First/Then book that "my child's" autism support worker (from the council) insists I use. Whilst I realise that a lot of adults do say "He doesn't need that", when in fact, autistic child in question does need something, I really REALLY feel like the first/then book is not working.

There are a few issues:

  1. He is too forward thinking. He wants to know what is happening first and then...and then...and then...whereas the book only allows for the first activity
  2. The first activity may change very quickly and, apart from the fact that he struggles with change, I don't even have the chance to make the change of activity in the book before it's started and new, unexpected demands are being made of him.
  3. He doesn't seem that motivated by rewards. He won't get on with something because he knows something else is coming. I don't see it drives his behaviour.

I've pushed back a few times, trying to come up with alternatives, but keep being told I need to use it. It just seems pointless. And given that I spend the most amount of time with him at school, and she sees him once a week for 5-10 minutes, shouldn't she be listening to me when I tell her it's more of a hinderance than a help?

Has anyone else had experience of using this? How effective was it? Any tips on how I can better integrate it into his day?

Thanks!

Ellen

Parents

  • it does sound like your child maybe needs to use a visual timetable. If hes asking whats happening way ahead he probably has some anxiety and a visual timetable will help him/her menatlly prepair themselves better. still use the now/next when your motivators arent working. now we do carpet time, then reward. think about rewards too. my son didnt respond to much when he was very little - i dont know what age group you support. often things like stickers wont wash. I let my son chose his rewards and often use a star chart  to build up say 5 stars before he gets his chosen reward. obviously sometimes rewards need to be smaller and instant. does he have any special interests? 

    i would persue with visuals. sometimes its just tweeking how you use them, being consistent and using them in a certain way. 

    my son had always really struggled with dressing and id given up on the many different visual concepts id tried and failed with until an autism support worker said well are you using it right? have you tried this? and i tried it again and it worked a treat.

    good luck x 

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  • it does sound like your child maybe needs to use a visual timetable. If hes asking whats happening way ahead he probably has some anxiety and a visual timetable will help him/her menatlly prepair themselves better. still use the now/next when your motivators arent working. now we do carpet time, then reward. think about rewards too. my son didnt respond to much when he was very little - i dont know what age group you support. often things like stickers wont wash. I let my son chose his rewards and often use a star chart  to build up say 5 stars before he gets his chosen reward. obviously sometimes rewards need to be smaller and instant. does he have any special interests? 

    i would persue with visuals. sometimes its just tweeking how you use them, being consistent and using them in a certain way. 

    my son had always really struggled with dressing and id given up on the many different visual concepts id tried and failed with until an autism support worker said well are you using it right? have you tried this? and i tried it again and it worked a treat.

    good luck x 

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