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He has a computer that he can use down in our basement. He keeps turning it off cold turkey using the button on the surge protector. It has caused the surge protector to spark. It has tripped the curcuit breaker twice. He came up the one time with a black mark on his finger. We've taken it away for a week at a time. Now with this last time,don't know how long to take it away for or take it away forever.

June 8, 2013
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Answer Summary

Members offered thoughtful strategies for helping a 19-year-old with autism safely shut down his computer after repeated unsafe shutdowns... Read more

Members offered thoughtful strategies for helping a 19-year-old with autism safely shut down his computer after repeated unsafe shutdowns damaged equipment and caused electrical hazards. Several members suggested positive reinforcement over punishment, including visual step-by-step guides, reminders like tape over the surge protector button, rewards for proper shutdowns, and understanding that negative consequences alone may not change behavior in individuals with ASD. A recurring theme was meeting the young adult where he is developmentally rather than where age expectations suggest he should be, with compassion for both the parent's frustration and the reality that some skills require ongoing support regardless of chronological age.

A MyAutismTeam Member

It is important to remember that for some people with ASD, no amount of negative reinforcement will ever change a behavior. Try instead watching a few times, and giving a reward for doing it properly. If he does it wrong, don't give him anything, no attention, no lecture, no punishment, no nothing.

June 9, 2013
A MyAutismTeam Member

I like to thank everyone for your advice. I was just hoping that by 19 that I wouldn't have to do visuals for
everything.

June 10, 2013
A MyAutismTeam Member

Would a graphic help? Post a picture of what to do to turn it off correctly and maybe put a piece of tape over the button on the surge protector to remind him. Explain to him if he can understand (my son refuses to do something if he doesn't know why he needs to do it).

June 10, 2013
A MyAutismTeam Member

Having to use patience when going through the steps of proper pc shut down may be stressing him out or making him aggitated. Positive rewards will help to make it a more positive experience rather than an irritating one. You may want to write down the steps with visuals for him to focus on, with the final step being a reward.

June 9, 2013
A MyAutismTeam Member

I have a daughter who is 11, when she does stuff that is wrong again and again taking things away as stated above did no good. we tied explaining the safety violation she had done, that helped for so long. Have you asked him why he does it? we did and it helped alot when trying to explain how wrong it was. We explained how it made us feel and responds well to that. Good luck i hope you find your answer.

June 9, 2013

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