[DS/Autism] Scared verses stubborn

[Guest guest]

Friday morning Trisha stopped on the porch and refused to move and started

crying (the kind where she makes a lot of noise so that she doesn't hear you)

I thought it was because she didn't want to go to school but when I walked

onto the porch it had a fine sheet of wet ice on it and she was scared. The

bus aid came and the two of us finally got her down the steps with her crying

the whole time. This really shows how not being able to communicate her fears

caused her behavior to escalate and how sometimes we assume it means one

thing and it can mean a totally different thing. I just assumed she was being

stubborn because she didn't want to go to school until I stepped onto the

porch I had not idea there was ice on it, it just looked wet from the rain on

Thursday. She was scared and couldn't tell us so she did what she knows and

cried and refused to move. I felt so bad afterwards because here I was telling

her to go on the bus was waiting and by the time I realized she was scared

and not being stubborn we were all frustrated. How can we help her? I don't

think a speech device would have helped in that situation because it would

be one more thing to carry and try to manipulate or either been in her bag for

transportation to school. Pictures also would not be a good thing in a

situation like, I can and will teach her the sign for scared but if she doesn't

understand what scared means then what do I do? I was wondering if any of

you might have some ideas?

Carol

Trishasmom

She isn't Typical, She's Trisha!