ASD and Eloping in Restaurants

[Disneylvr]

As we plan our next Disney trip (spring break) I can't help but think back to last year and when we dine out at home...Madelyn's (6 years old with moderate to severe ASD) eloping in crowded restaurants is pretty much a guarantee. To prevent it in other crowded places we simply strap her in the special needs stroller as we go from point A to point B and she is content. I just don't know what to do in restaurants. This is something we are working on in ABA but if she gets over stimulated by anything she will, without warning, jump up from her chair and run off. This can be very scary in a crowded area. Any solutions or ideas? I hate to restrain her but it is getting harder and harder to enjoy a meal out without keeping one hand on her. We don't want to keep her in the stroller for meals.

 

[KirstenB]

Is she verbal?
If so, can she work on

1. remaining seated
2. either verbally, or signalling to you that she wants to see whatever it is? (I know when I'm intrigued by something, I definitely want to go see it!!)
3. if she does the above, she gets a treat, and gets to see the stimulus


Our dd Zoe is 4, and has ASD, but is verbal. We've been having a hard time with sitting through dinner at home, and attending to other tasks. Her teacher uses a timer clock in the classroom, and suggested we use one during dinner, bath time etc.

I was thinking that if Madalyn has asked permission, reward her. Bring a little clock to wherever the stimulus is, and set the timer to however long you're willing to let her stay. Then she needs to return to her seat for the rest of dinner. If she sits through dinner, she can go back to whatever it is, after dinner.

 

[Disneylvr]

No, Madelyn is not verbal. She uses some sign language but it is very limited at this point. In school she has a one on one aide that helps to keep her seated to do desk work, in circle time etc...among other things of course. 95% of the time she will stay seated, after several reminders but then all of a sudden without warning she will dash off. Under most circumstances we just chase her down but we all know how crowded it can get in Disney World. We don't want her to get separated from us especially since she cannot speak. At the same time we would like to have a worry free meal. I know this is something we are just going to have to keep working on with her.

 

[ireland_nicole]

First off, don't know if this is the "right" thing, but it's what works for us. Whenever possible, get a booth; are at least a table against a wall; we find that it helps to keep our kiddos "contained"; also, in a really distracting environment, we try to face them away from the action. I keep a small DVD player- well, now my iphone, stocked w/ a fave movie or two. The earbuds combined with the visual really tends to calm my kids. Finally, I have used one of the wrist harness things (doesn't come even close to working when out and about, but buys me a few seconds if DD or DS would spring out of their seat; it was enough slack we were all able to use both hands, and not feel "confined" but still helped to keep them within a couple feet until I could catch em.

 

[Disneylvr]

Wrist harness! That would be perfect. Where can I get one of those?

 

[jmartinez1895]

A frind of mine had almost the same situation and what she has done is to either use a wrist strap while in a booth as said above or use a belt that she made. She bought some fabric that he son liked ( i think it had sponge bob on it) and sesed the edges so that it did not fray. When they got to any place that he would have to sit in a chair she would place it around his waist and tie it in the back. It worked great for them because as he has gotten older he has not had to use it as often. It has trained him to sit and stay untill mom or dad is ready for him to get up.

 

[KirstenB]

I bought a wrist harness a couple of years ago at Walmart.

 

[Disneylvr]

DD might have sensory issues with a wrist harness but it is worth a try. I thought about a seat belt strap too...... I hate to restrain her too much but I also want to keep her safe.

 

[Schmeck]

If you use a wrist harness, please don't get one with the telephone coil cord - they stretch out too far, and can cause some major injuries to the child. Actually, if you use a wrist harness, be aware that they can cause dislocated shoulders, torn tendons, and muscle pulls. Body harnesses with short, non stretchy leashes are the safest options.

 

[Disneylvr]

My husband is 100% against any kind of harness so we might end up not using one at all. This weekend we took DD out to many places including 2 sit down restaurants and she did so well. I guess the crowds in WDW are what scare me the most and she is fast now, faster than I can run. I might bring a body harness just in case. Thanks everyone.

 

[ireland_nicole]

Sorry, I've been busy- my dad's been really ill, so I have'nt been following the thread.

I wasn't suggesting pulling a child by a wrist harness, in fact we don't use one outside of restaurants, but a body harness really won't work as well for this application.). I have taken the wrist strap and used a carebeaner (sp?) to attach to a belt loop, and then put the other on my wrist. As I said before, they're just a way of buying a few seconds time. I do find seating position (i.e. against a wall with DH or I toward the room- or even better, a booth; with both of us facing each other and if one of the kids makes a break for it under the table we cross our legs together as a "gate") and distraction to be even more useful.

One of the best ways I've seen is a fellow Disser who's child with autism has a SD. One of her functions is to tether to the kiddo. I really, really wish we had a SD who could do that
another option is a weighted vest or lap "blanket". It doesn't restrain the child, but for some kids gives good sensory input that helps to stay calm and seated. DD uses one at school.

 

[SueM in MN]

Under most circumstances we just chase her down but we all know how crowded it can get in Disney World. We don't want her to get separated from us especially since she cannot speak. At the same time we would like to have a worry free meal. I know this is something we are just going to have to keep working on with her.

I don't know if you have used a global positioning tracker before, but one of the companies that rent special needs strollers also rent them.
Look in post #2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread by the special needs stroller info if you are interested.

And, maybe a restraint with a little freedom would help - like the harness idea. That way, she could get up and move, but she could only go as far as the harness strap lets her.

 

[ireland_nicole]

one of the GPS downsides is that, from the research I have done, they only get you within about 50 ft. Well, in our case, my DS especially can stay lost a long time and still be within 50 ft. It's a good extra safety net, but not a stand alone proposition.