Outsmarting Explosive Behavior: A Visual System of Support and Intervention for Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Even the most calm and level-headed among us can't avoid those unexpected moments that cause anxiety, anger, and sometimes rage. But before most let their feelings get out of control, they have the ability to calm down and think before they act. For those on the autism spectrum, however, this process often escalates quickly and without apparent warning, leading them down a seemingly one-way path toward explosive behavior. If unchecked, explosive behaviors can result in a lifetime of anxiety and social exclusion, or worse yet, encounters with the criminal justice system that can have far-reaching consequences.Outsmarting Explosive Behavior is a visual model designed to help decrease, and in some cases eliminate, explosive behavior. The model's positive approach to explosive behavior uniquely eliminates the need or temptation to assign blame-to oneself or others-that otherwise often complicates the process of controlling explosive behavior. In a fold-out poster-style format, four train cars represent the stages in the cycle of explosive behavior: Starting Out Picking up Steam Point of No Return Explosion. Using this train metaphor, the parent/facilitator and student (older individuals can do it more independently) take a close look at each stage in the process and using stop, go and special stop/yield signs, identify triggers, design positive interventions to prevent the train from starting out in the first place and preventing a car from moving to the next stage. The ultimate goal is to prevent the individual train cars from hooking up, causing a runaway train ending with an explosion. The three-piece package contains: a book for facilitators that explains the model a large poster-size visual showing the train model with ready-made parts that can be personalized a workbook for the individual with AS designed to draw out the personalized interventions that will make the model work. Though designed to encourage participation by the person with explosive behavior, positive results are seen even when the model is implemented on behalf of someone unable to actively participate, such as nonreaders.

Judy Endow, MSW, maintains a private practice in Madison, Wisconsin, providing consultation for families, school districts and other agencies. Besides having autism herself, she is the parent of three now grown sons, one of whom is on the autism spectrum. Judy does workshops and presentations on a variety of autism-related issues, is part of the Wisconsin DPI Statewide Autism Training Team and a board member of the Autism Society of America, Wisconsin Chapter. Her first book, Making Lemonade, Hints for Autism's Helpers (CBR Press, 2006), shows how Judy has used the lemons of her autism to "make lemonade" in her own life. Judy is also the author of a soon-to-be released book, Paper Words, Discovering and Living with My Autism, and a DVD, The Power of Words: How we talk about people with autism spectrum disorders matters! (AAPC, 2009). She brings a great depth of understanding and compassion to all the work she does.