Teaching self-monitoring/managing skills
The ultimate goal for all students, including those with autism, is to
increase independent participation in a variety of environments with
effective social skills. One way to increase independence in higher-functioning
students with autism is to teach self-management procedures, in
which students monitor their own behaviour in order to earn positive
reinforcement. Studies have shown that in the process of the student
collecting his or her own self-monitoring data, the desired behaviour
increases. The accuracy of the self-monitoring may not be as important
as the process and awareness it builds in the student. The process for
teaching self-management is as follows:
1. Define the target behaviour that the student will self-monitor.
2. Identify reinforcers that function successfully for the individual.
3. Create a self-monitoring method for the student to collect data
(e.g., a chart, stickers, or some kind of low-tech counter device).
4. Teach the student the target behaviour and how to use the
self-monitoring method to record the performance of the
behaviour.
5. Increase the student’s independence by gradually
reducing adult intervention and having the student selfmanage
behaviour.