A Grab Bag of Tricks Working with Scouts

A Grab Bag of Tricks: Working with Scouts with Behavioral and Sensory Issues Chris Parrott Webelos Den Leader, Pack 260 Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop 240 Hillsboro, Oregon 1

Agenda • • Introduction Understanding ADHD and SPD Tips and Tricks Stories from the Field Open Discussion Encouragement Resources 2

Introduction • My Scouting bio – Fifth year as a Scouter, third year in CPC – 15 th year overall in the BSA – Active in Scouting as a youth in Texas • Arrow of Light, Eagle Scout awards – Three sons active in the BSA now – Working on completing Wood Badge ticket • Interest in special needs – Oldest son diagnosed with ASD (Asperger’s) – Youngest son has ADHD/sensory issues – Focused on Scouts with special needs as diversity component for Wood Badge 3

Three Subtypes of ADHD • Predominately Inattentive (ADHD-PI) – Classic “ADD” – Sometimes referred to as ADHD-I • Predominately Hyperactive-Impulsive (ADHD-PHI) – Classic “ADHD” • Combined (ADHD-C) – Individuals who demonstrate elements of both of the above subtypes 4

Symptoms of ADHD-PI • Easily distracted • Difficulty maintaining focus on a single task • Boredom with a task after a few minutes • Trouble completing assignments • Often losing things • Disorganized • Doesn’t seem to listen when spoken to • Difficulty processing information accurately 5

Symptoms of ADHD-PHI • Hyperactivity – – – Fidget and squirm in seat Talk nonstop Dart around, touching everything in sight Excessive trouble sitting still Excessive difficulty with quiet tasks or activities • Impulsivity – – – Excessively impatient Poor impulse control Frequently blurt out inappropriate comments Act without regard to consequences Frequently interrupts conversations or activities 6

Comorbid Conditions • Comorbidity is a clinical term – Refers to conditions that are also present alongside a given condition – Such conditions may exist simultaneously, yet independently of a given condition – May arise from a common cause, or otherwise be related to a given condition • A number of other conditions are known to be comorbid with ADHD 7

ADHD: Comorbid Conditions • • Oppositional Defiant Disorder Conduct Disorder Mood disorders (depression, bipolar) Anxiety disorders Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Sleep disorders Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) – Including Asperger’s Syndrome • Sensory Processing Disorders (SPD) • Sluggish Cognitive Tempo 8

Sensory Processing Disorders • Often present alongside ADHD • Indicated by difficulty integrating stimuli from multiple senses – – – – Visual Tactile (touch) Auditory (sound) Olfactory (smell) Gustatory (taste) Vestibular (balance) Proprioception (body placement in space) 9

Causes of ADHD and SPD • Unknown, research ongoing • Many theories – Strong genetic component indicated – Possible environmental factors – Some symptoms may be related to allergies or food sensitivities • Probably varies from individual to individual – Everybody is unique – Famous saying: “if you have met one person with autism, you have met one person with autism. ” Also true here! 10

Executive Functioning • Many ADHD symptoms tied to Executive Functioning (EF) problems • EF is the “CEO” function of our brains • EF expressed in our abilities to: – – Regulate sensory inputs Process, organize, and store new information Retrieve existing information Make decisions • Regulated by the prefrontal cortex area of the brain – Research indicates people with EF issues appear to have lower prefrontal cortex volumes 11

Executive Functions • • • Initiating Stopping Shifting Planning (Complex Problem-Solving) Monitoring Inhibiting Sense of time Goal-setting Self-awareness 12

Treatment of ADHD • Common to see many or all of these strategies for treating ADHD – Medications – Nutrition / dietary modifications – Behavioral therapy • Important to create a culture of openness with families – Better to know ahead of time, before issues arise – Need to get medications, dietary info on med forms for outings 13

Sensory Processing Disorder • Typically falls into three categories: – Sensory-seeking – Sensory-defensive – Combination • Sensory-seekers have need to augment external stimuli – – – “Stimming” or pacing Crashing Flapping Fidgeting Enjoy being wrapped in blankets, wearing weighted vests, or being held tightly – Thrill-seeking behavior (beware of risks!) 14

Sensory Processing Disorder • Sensory-defensive people have hypersensitive aversions to stimuli – – – Smells Tastes Food textures Noises Clothing materials Lighting (too bright, or fluorescent lights) • Failure to mitigate these aversions can lead to sensory meltdowns! 15

Sensory Meltdowns • A meltdown happens when sensory stimuli exceeds one’s ability to cope • Symptoms of a meltdown – Screaming – Crying – Acting out • Important to understand the reasons behind a meltdown – Not a conscious choice to misbehave – Person may not have skills to communicate what is wrong 16

Tips for Scouts with ADHD • Keep behavioral expectations simple – Scouts with ADHD have difficulty following a long list of rules • Use positive reinforcement – Give Scouts incentive to follow expectations – Reward Scouts when they comply – Progressively build up to bigger reward(s) • Prioritize kinesthetic and visual experiences – Scouts will enjoy and remember more of what they see and do – Keeping them busy keeps them out of trouble! 17

Tips for Scouts with ADHD • Change up activities frequently – Boys are naturally wired for short attention spans – Fortunate if you get them to sit still more than about 10 minutes – Alternate active and passive activities – Give boys an appropriate outlet for their energy • Use the EDGE Method for teaching – Explain, Demonstrate, Guide, Enable – Limits teaching time to short duration by design – Gives boys a chance to try it out for themselves 18

Tips for Scouts with ADHD • Use lots of visuals – – – Posters Slide shows Multimedia Visual schedule Use colors to highlight important information Graphically organize important information • Use memory tricks to help remember important things – Mnemonics (e. g. acronyms) – Spatial layout of information (e. g. time lines) – Connect new information to old information 19

Tips for Scouts with ADHD • Incorporate Scouts’ special interests – Everybody likes to feel like an “expert” at something – Give Scouts a chance to indulge their special interests on occasion – Use their special interests as a bridge to teach new information • Use technology where appropriate – Great resources: Youtube, TED, Netflix – Balance is key – encourage Scouts to unplug on outings 20

Tips for Scouts with ADHD • Typical Den Meeting schedule – – – Gathering activity Opening (flag ceremony, Pledge, etc. ) Announcements Game Advancement activities Closing 21

Tips for Scouts with SPD • Understand the sensory needs of your Scouts – Are they sensory-seeking, sensory-defensive, or both? – If sensory-defensive, what are their triggers? • Provide fidgets for your Scouts – “Fidgets” are items that Scouts can manipulate with their hands – Often cuts down on interruptions by keeping Scouts’ hands occupied – Stress balls, even cheap “koosh” balls from dollar store work great – Specially designed fidget toys also available 22

Tips for Scouts with SPD • Crash Pit good for sensory-seekers – Use a child’s wading pool filled with pillows, stuffed animals, other soft objects – Allows child to safely crash without harming himself or others – Requires some investment of supplies and time • Weighted blankets also helpful for sensory-seekers – Available commercially at modest expense – Can also make your own at home – take an old blanket and sew pouches of poly pellets into it (around 1 lb. of pellets per 10 lbs. of user) 23

Tips for Scouts with SPD • Provide and staff a sensory room – May need more than one, if sensory needs of multiple Scouts are at odds with one another – Gives Scouts who are melting down a safe, comfortable place to reset – Provides a safe place for Scouts to stim, if they need it – Important to keep BSA Youth Protection and Safe Scouting policies in mind – Keep lighting soft, noises to minimum for sensory-defensive Scouts – Crash pit, blankets, fidgets all useful items here 24

Tips for Scouts with SPD • Light Covers help mitigate negative effects of fluorescent lighting – May be impractical to install and remove these every week before a meeting, however – Alternately, may want to bring in a lamp with full -spectrum lighting (e. g. incandescent light) • Consider clothing alterations – Example: if the uniform collar bothers a Scout, remove it! – I would much rather have a Scout participating in the program, than to make a big issue out of his uniform not meeting his sensory needs 25

Stories and Open Discussion • I will relate a couple of successes from my experiences • You are invited to share any of yours as well, if you have any • Also welcome open discussion pertaining to ADHD and SPD 26

Encouragement • Give yourself permission to have a bad meeting or outing now and then • We all have them – Yes, even me! • Important to learn what worked, and what didn’t after any experience – Especially the negative ones • Try to solve things that didn’t work, and improve on them for next time • Even though it may not feel like it at the time, you are a hero for trying 27

Takeaways • Boys with ADHD and SPD can succeed in Scouting • We are volunteers, not miracle workers – Nobody expects you to solve all the problems – As we tell our Cub Scouts: “Do Your Best” • It’s OK to ask for help – Some boys need extra attention – Do not be afraid to call in extra help if a particular Scout is taking an unreasonable amount of your time and energy • You can make a difference! 28

Resources • CHADD – Children & Adults with ADHD http: //www. chadd. org/ • Sensory Processing Disorder Foundtaion http: //www. spdfoundation. net/ • Kranowitz, Carol Stock. The Out of Sync Child. Perigee, 2006. • BSA: Scouts with Special Needs – http: //www. scouting. org/scoutsource/boyscouts /thebuildingblocksofscouting/specneeds. aspx 29

Resources • Autism Empowerment (including Autism & Scouting Project) – http: //www. autismempowerment. org/ • Autism & Scouting on Facebook – https: //www. facebook. com/autismandscouting 30