Behavior Support Plan
Even if you’re new to this special needs parenting gig, you probably already know it’s not exactly smooth sailing all the time. That said, there are some steps we can take as parents to calm the waters. We can work towards happier and more peaceful lives for us and our kids.
When kids are tiny, their emotions rule the day. They cry to let us know they are hungry or tired or need a diaper change. Then, slowly, we help them to communicate with us. We teach them to sign or speak (or any other form of communication). As their needs get more developed, we make communication gains that allow our kids to tell us what they want.
Puberty
Then puberty hits and for most kids with special needs, communication cannot keep up with the hormonal insanity inside their bodies. Even kids who were calm and cooperative before start to use behaviors to communicate with us. They’re telling us that puberty sucks! The behaviors are sometimes difficult to manage, and doctors often suggest powerful medications that can help but may also cause lots of issues of their own. All medication discussions will be left to individual families and doctors since that’s not our purpose here.
Behavior Support Plans can be used instead of medication or in combination with medication to help your child learn to manage their emotions. Again, whether you decide to medicate your child or abstain from medication, behavioral support should be happening either way. Behavior Support Plans are created by the professionals who work with your child, and they are designed to decrease problematic behaviors and provide your child with more productive ways to handle challenges.
More Information
I’m not affiliated with this company, but their explanation of BSPs is helpful if you’re interested in learning more.
https://www.advancedautism.com/post/aba-behavior-support-plans
Most public schools will be able to help you because they often have Board Certified Behavior Analysts on staff or they have one locally with whom they consult. These plans help identify triggers for negative behaviors, clearly document your child’s response and then lay out a plan for the adults to follow to help make your child’s behaviors more adaptive and productive.
So your life can be happy and peaceful.
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About the Author
Erica Mauro is a mom to two teenage boys, Will who is neurotypical and Michael with Autism and cognitive delays. She holds a BA in Psychology from Colgate University and a Masters of Psychology in Education from Columbia Teacher’s College. Before staying home with her children, she worked as an elementary school teacher. For five years, she served on the Board of Directors of the Molly Ann Tango Memorial Foundation, a charity dedicated to enriching the lives of children with special needs. In partnership with her husband Dave, she aspires to parent by using daily life as an opportunity for therapeutic intervention, seizing on real experiences as opportunities to build skills and strategies for Michael in a joyful, loving home environment. On the tougher early days, she just tried to get everyone safely to bedtime and start fresh in the morning. *wink* 
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