Today's post is a column submitted by Imagine! employee Jonny Brennan, who has extensive training and experience working with individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD). The Imagine! PR team asked him to share some knowledge on how to better navigate the Holiday season as it has the potential to cause stress for people with I/DD.
With the holiday season rapidly approaching, our clients’ environments will see a heightened amount of stimuli. Music, vibrant colors, crowds, etc. will engulf us soon enough, and it is so important that we are prepared. One technique that helps is the use of pre-cueing and specific prompting. When entering new environments (stores, parades, holiday parties, community events), take a few seconds to let the individual you are supporting know exactly where you are going, what the activity is, what time you will be leaving, and if possible, who they will be seeing. This may help ease some apprehensive feelings.
For example: “Joe, we are going to Target today at 9:30am. When we get to Target, we are walking to the holiday aisle, picking out wrapping paper, then buying it. When we are done buying wrapping paper, we are going back to the car and driving home.”
This is a lot more clear than, “Hey, get ready, we are going to the store.”
Pre-cues and specific prompts allow the consumer time to process the information being presented and may lead to a better understanding of what’s ahead. Of course, using reinforcing statements each step of the way is imperative! It may seem silly, but little statements like, “Joe, thanks so much for coming to Target with me, I love shopping with you!” or “Great job finding the holiday aisle and the wrapping paper Joe, you are an amazing shopper!”
These not only act as reminders of the tasks you are completing, but may in fact make previously aversive situations reinforcing and exciting!
Cheers to a wonderful holiday season! ~ Jonathan Brennan, MA, BCBA
Jonny graduated from Ball State University with an M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis and an emphasis on autism. He received his Board Certified Behavior Analyst certification in August of 2018.
Thank you very much for this idea. We will definitely give that a try with our son.
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