DISABILITY AND CREATING A BEHAVIOR PLAN

Families that have someone with a "behavior," learn how to cope in different ways. There are different "behaviors;" for example, hitting, biting, kicking, spitting, and so on. The "behavior" not only affects the person with a disability, but the whole family. The siblings also find ways to deal with this. Some get angry, some develop resentment, and some really have a hard time and turn to drugs or other addictions. Life just is not easy; and yet, as with life, there needs to be a plan to make things easier.

I wish that someone had discussed a behavior plan with me when Patrick was younger, as he has not outgrown his issues. Instead they have manifested themselves now in many areas of his life. The point I want to emphasis is that in order to obtain the required services that a child and young adult needs, there should be a behavior plan in force for others to look at, when dealing with the person with the disability. As this is something I am going through at the moment, it is what I want to write this month's article about.

There are services in my area that are quite unique and we are lucky! "The Center for Autism Services and Transition" or "CAST," has doctors that specialize in autism. It has only been in existence for a couple of years, and one of Patrick's teachers told me about it. That was in October of this year. This center hopes to be a model for other states. If you are interested, please go online, www.autismspeaks.org. It is a huge resource.

Since taking Patrick there, they have been so supportive of us and have helped us to attain the services that Patrick had been lacking. His doctor recommended that Patrick have a behavior plan, for his Pica, and so now we are in the process of developing this.

Wishing you all a happy end to the year of 2015, and to more Miracles in 2016.