I assume you are talking about changing clothes?

Step one is to figure out the obstacle. Many ASD kids have physical problems with clothes. My son has extremely low muscle tone, and his fingers are also not coordinated enough to handle small buttons or zippers.

If it is an understanding problem, that is a different issue. Many kids simply don't understand the difference between pajamas and school clothes, and won't follow a request unless it makes some basic sense to them.

Or it might be a question of motivation. An ASD child might understand the request, and be able to do it, but not care. Getting dressed is a multi-step process, and involves some work. A lot of kids figure out pretty quickly that if they put hard things off long enough, someone will eventually come in and help.

Once you are more confident of the obstacle, you can break it down into smaller peaces and deal with it. Typically the issue is the third one. Changing clothes requires effort, and kids will avoid effort if they can.

There are a few general rules:

1. Use carrots, not sticks. Offer a reward ahead of time for each part of the task. It has to be something motivating. If the only thing the child likes is iPad games, then promise a certain amount of time to play the game in exchange for good behavior. Do not threaten to take it away for bad behavior. (Studies have shown that punishment almost never works for ASD kids).

2. Stick to it. Even if it takes an extra hour a day. You might have to try it many times before it works perfectly, but it is worth the effort. Not only will it expand the child's ability and self-reliance, but the time investment will eventually yield a net reward. It is quicker to do it for them, but not better.

3. Don't be scared to talk to a professional. We are big fans of classic ABA techniques, but it doesn't always work for every kid. If you are not having any success at all, find an expert or two and ask for more ideas. You might be surprised how many creative ways the experts have to teach and reinforce good behavior.

Good luck.

Thank you soo much