"Violence is the language of the unheard"
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr
I love this quote.
I recently participated in a physical management training for work, and we were talking about some of the reasons why nonverbal clients use aggression/hurting others as a way to communicate.
Aggressive or violent ASD individuals need a consistent way to communicate with others instead of resorting to hurting others. Beyond communication, I recommend putting yourself in that individuals shoes to consider factors that can make violence seem like a desirable option:
How often does that individual get to feel powerful?
How often is that individual offered choices vs. given demands?
Does the individuals communication, whether vocal, by Ipad, etc., contain more than just mands ("I want juice")?
How is personality, interests, and likes/dislikes incorporated into the individuals treatment? In other words, are we teaching what they want to learn, or only what we think they should know?
Is treatment provided in a way where the individual feels respected?
Does the individual feel heard?
...Something to think about.
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