Managing the Cycle of Meltdowns for Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder

This hands-on, practical, teacher-friendly approach to preventing as well as responding to the acting-out behaviours of students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) includes detailed procedures for general and special education teachers. It is based on the model described in Colvin's bestselling book, Managing the Cycle of Acting Out Behavior in the Classroom, which presents a 7-step model for confronting challenging behaviour in the classroom, from the calm phase to the agitation phase to the deescalation phase. Of special importance in this book is the attention paid to how challenging behaviours of students with ASD are related to the disability, specifically the role of sensory and medical issues. Based on a well-researched model, the methods in this book have been field-tested.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Richard L. Simpson

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

Introduction

Section I: A Model for Meltdown Behavior of Students With ASD

• 1. Autism Spectrum Disorder, Overview
• 2. The Nature of Meltdowns
• 3. A Six-Phase Model of the Meltdown Cycle

Section II: Strategies for Managing the Phases of the Meltdown Cycle

• 4. Calm Phase
• 5. Trigger Phase
• 6. Agitation Phase
• 7. Meltdown Phase
• 8. Re-Grouping Phase
• 9. Starting-Over Phase
• 10. The Parent Component

Closing Remarks

Appendices

References

Index

"An indispensable resource for teachers working with students with ASD, this book is informative, useful, easy to follow, and loaded with wisdom on analyzing challenging meltdown behaviors, identifying triggers, and implementing effective interventions."
- Catalina Palfreman, Special Education Teacher, Wellesley High School, MA

"This book provides educators and parents with current research-based strategies for helping to recognize the stages of meltdown in children with ASD and a model for systematic analysis and action. The strategies suggested are comprehensive and sensitive to the diversity of student needs."
- Shannan McNair, Associate Professor, Oakland University, Rochester, MI

"As parents of a teenage boy with Autism, we highly recommend this book. Although our son has not had a true meltdown in many years, he still periodically displays the rest of the cycle. We learned from Geoff and Martin’s book that what we once regarded as problem behaviors are really very purposeful strategies for achieving his various goals. We wish we'd had this resource 15 years ago! However, we are now better equipped to manage his current needs."
- Greg and Shelley Backstrom, Parents of child with ASD, Tacoma, WA