AUTISM AWARENESS FOR THE AMUSEMENT INDUSTRY MIKE PASTOR (630)

Transcription

1 AUTISM AWARENESS FOR THE AMUSEMENT INDUSTRY MIKE PASTOR (630)

2 Link to Video Link to Video

3 WELCOME OUR PARENT PANEL: KAREN THOMPSON KAREN HOWINGTON TOM SCHEFFER SESSION OBJECTIVES: ACQUIRE A BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF AUTISM GUIDANCE ON SETTING UP A TRAINING PROGRAM IDEAS TO INCORPORATE IN TO YOUR PARK OR FACILITY

4 WHAT IS AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER? DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY IMPACTING COMMUNICATION AND SOCIALIZATION SKILLS NO KNOWN CAUSE, NO KNOWN CURE BUT TREATMENT AVAILABLE AWARENESS, DIAGNOSIS AND ASSISTANCE IS INCREASING EVERY DAY!

5 WHAT IS AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER? LARGE SPECTRUM High Functioning Non Verbal Verbal Low Functioning

6 STATISTICS- PREVALENCE

7 STATISTICS COST

8 SOME SYMPTOMS MAY NOT MAKE EYE CONTACT HYPERACTIVITY (VERY ACTIVE) IMPULSIVITY (ACTING WITHOUT THINKING) SENSITIVITY TO TOUCH, LIGHTS, SOUNDS - SENSORY AGGRESSION CAUSING SELF INJURY (HIGH PAIN THRESHOLD) TEMPER TANTRUMS UNUSUAL MOOD OR EMOTIONAL REACTIONS LACK OF FEAR OR MORE FEAR THAN EXPECTED STRONG REACTIONS TO THE WAY THINGS SOUND, SMELL, TASTE, LOOK, OR FEEL

9 UNIQUE INTERESTS OR BEHAVIORS LINES UP TOYS OR OTHER OBJECTS PLAYS WITH TOYS THE SAME WAY EVERY TIME LIKES PARTS OF OBJECTS (E.G., WHEELS) IS VERY ORGANIZED GETS UPSET BY MINOR CHANGES HAS OBSESSIVE INTERESTS HAS TO FOLLOW CERTAIN ROUTINES FLAPS HANDS, ROCKS BODY, OR SPINS SELF IN CIRCLES

10 DANGERS OF WATER DROWNING IS THE #1 CAUSE OF DEATH OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL AUTISM ASSOCIATION, 92 PERCENT OF PARENTS SURVEYED IN 2007 SAID THEIR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM WERE AT RISK OF WANDERING FATAL INCIDENTS INVOLVING WANDERING AND AUTISM OFTEN INVOLVE DROWNINGS AFTER YOUNG CHILDREN WANDER FROM HOME, SCHOOL, OR DAY CARE GUEST MAY STAY UNDER WATER FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME DUE TO CALMING SENSATION ON SKIN.

11 STEMMING OR STIMMING WATER SPECIFIC OBJECT SPECIFIC LOCATION Stimming and Aspergers- Anthony's Description Socially unacceptable attachment to objects Link to Stemming Video

12 SPOTTING AUTISM WHAT TO LOOK FOR MAY NOT RESPOND WHEN QUESTIONED MAY NOT LISTEN TO RULES MAY RUN OFF WHEN SPOKEN TO MAY NOT MAKE EYE CONTACT MAY MIMIC YOUR QUESTIONS NEVER ASSUME, AND NEVER ASSUME SOMEONE KNOWS THAT THEIR CHILD HAS AUTISM

13 IS THE CHILD IN DANGER? IT IS OKAY TO USE YOUR HANDS TO KEEP THE GUEST SAFE IF ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY MELTDOWNS OR TANTRUMS MAY INJURE THEMSELVES OR OTHERS UNDERSTAND HOW PARENTS DEAL WITH MELTDOWNS FOR THEIR CHILD.

14 COMMUNICATING WITH A CHILD TREAT AS ANY OTHER GUEST CONSULT THEIR CHAPERONE FOR GUIDANCE IF YOU FIND THE GUEST WITHOUT THEIR CHAPERONE GET ON THE CHILD S LEVEL AND ESTABLISH EYE CONTACT SPEAK CALMLY TRY NOT TO TOUCH THE CHILD UNLESS THEY ARE PUTTING THEMSELVES IN DANGER TRY COMMUNICATING BY HAVING CHILD POINT OR USE ARM GESTURES

15 HELPING PARENTS ONLY IF PARENT SAYS THEIR CHILD HAS AUTISM: KEEP PARENT CALM WITH ONE QUESTION- IS YOUR CHILD VERBAL OR NON-VERBAL? GIVE THEM COMFORT BY ASKING TWO OTHERS- DOES YOUR CHILD STEM ON SOMETHING SUCH AS WATER? HAS YOUR CHILD BEEN TO THE PARK BEFORE OR WHICH IS THEIR FAVORITE PLACE TO BE?

16 SETTING YOUR EMPLOYEES UP FOR SUCCESS!

17 TRAINING- GETTING STARTED SET UP FOCUS GROUPS WITH YOUR PARK GUESTS LOOK FOR LOCAL EXPERTS TO TRAIN ASK PEOPLE IN YOUR PARK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE AND IF THEY WOULD BE OKAY SHARING WITH OTHERS.

18 CONSIDERATIONS FOR TRAINING TOPICS WHERE WOULD A CHILD GO IF THEY WERE TO RUN AWAY? QUIET LOCATIONS, WATER AREAS? WHAT ATTRACTIONS MIGHT BE SENSORY OVERLOAD? WHAT NOISY FEATURES DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR SHOWS. CREATE A GUIDE. SOCIAL STORIES HOW DO YOU SPEAK WITH, INTERACT WITH OR GET THE ATTENTION OF A GUEST WITH AUTISM? DO YOU HAVE A RADIO CODE? TEACH 3 QUESTIONS TO CALM PARENTS

19 CONSIDERATIONS FOR YOUR FACILITY? BUILD OR DESIGNATE A QUIET AREA DISABILITY PASS CHAPERONE PASS HAVE WRISTBANDS AVAILABLE CREATE SIGNAGE THAT CLEARLY COMMUNICATES THE SOCIAL STORY INFORMATION ON WEBSITE CHECK YOUR WEBSITE! BUILD A CARE CENTER OR SENSORY ROOMS TAKE ACTION!!!

20 WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO YOUR BUSINESS? SAFETY AND LIABILITY GUESTS AND EMPLOYEES PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS SERVICE TO YOUR GUESTS WILL GIVE GUESTS A LEVEL OF COMFORT WORD OF MOUTH THE AUTISM COMMUNITY

21 DISCUSSION STORIES TO SHARE OR QUESTIONS TO ASK?

22 THANK YOU! MIKE PASTOR (630)