Students with special needs including autism spectrum disorder may engage in self-stimulatory behaviors for a variety of reasons. In today’s Teacher Tips, the Watson Institute offers replacement behaviors to help limit distractions or interference of self-stimulatory behaviors in a learning environment or in the community.
Self-stimulatory behaviors in students with special needs may be employed to help cope with stressors in their environment, enhance focus on tasks or to help express emotions. Typically, interventions or replacement behaviors for self-stimulation should only be used if the behaviors interfere with learning, community inclusion, or if they are dangers to the student or to others around them.
Create a plan to observe your student’s behaviors, determine possible triggers and times when these behaviors are likely to occur to begin the process and help identify possible replacement behaviors.
To learn more about self-stimulatory behaviors and replacement behaviors you can utilize in these situations, check out our YouTube video below. For more special education resources, visit Watson Life Resources.