Submitted by: Anna Beth Baden, M.Ed., BCBA

The field of Applied Behavior Analysis places a huge emphasis on the function (or the reason) of behavior. There are four main functions for behavior: (1) to get attention, (2) o get out of something (escape), (3) to obtain a preferred item (tangible), or (4) because of the way it feels (sensory). We engage in many behaviors in order to get something or get away from something. For many, it is easy to get access to things they want. For example, I could ask someone for some Sour Patch Kids or begin a conversation with someone to get attention. For people with autism or other disabilities, this communication can sometimes be extremely difficult. This difficulty or lack of communication skills often leads to problem behaviors.

Functional Communication Training (FCT) is often used to teach people with disabilities to communicate a person’s wants or needs.  In order to teach a person how to communicate we must first determine what the person wants. Behavior Analysts use assessments to figure out why a person is engaging in the challenging behavior and then create a plan to teach the person a socially appropriate way to communicate that want or need. This socially appropriate way to communicate may be through spoken words, such as “I need a break,” or even by handing a picture to a person to communicate that need.

When first beginning FCT, the appropriate requests may need to be prompted and must be honored or reinforced every time they occur. Over time, as the person is independently and appropriately requesting what he or she wants, a delay can be built in before the request is reinforced until, eventually, the person will be able to tolerate a long delay before getting the item or escaping the demand.

Functional Communication Training is a wonderful tool that can be used to improve communication between you and your loved ones.

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If the child in the spectrum is the oldest child siblings tend to feel more neglected that those that are older than the sibling with autism. It seems that if the sibling is high functioning, the feelings of neglect are lessened, but either scenario brings lack of attention to the younger child. Siblings and autism do not function well together if a younger child is affected either. The older sibling normally is asked to mature and take on responsibilities beyond their age. Becoming a care taker of a child with special needs is not a normal sibling function, so resentment will be forthcoming.

Many children in two parent families who have a sibling with autism feel closer to one parent and show hostility towards the parent who seems to cater to the autism. However, in single parent homes, the child who is not afflicted tends to be more protective of both the parent and the sibling. Each scenario is different of course, but siblings and autism is always a more one sided situation than a traditional sibling situation. There will be missed ball games and functions for the child who is not autistic just because of the needs of the sibling. Family functions can never be the same once autism is introduced, so siblings feel hurt.

Some siblings embrace the fact that they are not a child of special needs and many find careers that cater to helping people with special needs. But on the other hand, some lash out and are resentful of never having a sibling to tell secrets to or being able feel the sibling bond. Unfortunately, the scene of how autism and siblings will play out is as difficult to predict as the autism itself.

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