I can't believe I forgot one of the most important aspects of autism - anxiety upon the new.
My autistic student - we'll call him Timmy - was SO excited to get promoted to yellow belt! He couldn't wait for his study sheet, his belt, and ... alas ... he is rejecting learning his new techniques. The techniques are very different - all of the material is very, very different - from his prior ranks. The last few lessons have been very difficult on him, to the point of crying, pinching, grabbing, hitting, etcetera and he finally told me today that the techniques are scary.
**INSERT FIGURATIVE SMACK ON THE HEAD HERE**
Duh. I should FRIGGIN' KNOW, shouldn't I? The techniques he's doing now also involve directly touching another person and he is VERY tactile defensive.
So ... I'm going to need to write more lesson plans for him and involve him a little more in his choice for training.
I'm also seriously considering using a completely different rank for him, but then he'd stand out. That could be good, could be bad ... dunno.
The current short-term plan is to preview the techniques for him first and I may design some kind of drill to help desensitize him.
Hardheadjarhead, wherefor art thou?
My autistic student - we'll call him Timmy - was SO excited to get promoted to yellow belt! He couldn't wait for his study sheet, his belt, and ... alas ... he is rejecting learning his new techniques. The techniques are very different - all of the material is very, very different - from his prior ranks. The last few lessons have been very difficult on him, to the point of crying, pinching, grabbing, hitting, etcetera and he finally told me today that the techniques are scary.
**INSERT FIGURATIVE SMACK ON THE HEAD HERE**
Duh. I should FRIGGIN' KNOW, shouldn't I? The techniques he's doing now also involve directly touching another person and he is VERY tactile defensive.
So ... I'm going to need to write more lesson plans for him and involve him a little more in his choice for training.
I'm also seriously considering using a completely different rank for him, but then he'd stand out. That could be good, could be bad ... dunno.
The current short-term plan is to preview the techniques for him first and I may design some kind of drill to help desensitize him.
Hardheadjarhead, wherefor art thou?
