Self-Injurious Behavior

The challenge

To create a solution that either a) mitigates the impact of self-harm behavior, b) protects the caregiver from getting injured as well, or c) is an easy visual schedule to help Luke be more flexible

Why?

Self-injurious behavior is dangerous and harmful to the child but can also be dangerous for those trying to intervene. Intervening can occasionally result in scratches or bruising which is especially important to try and avoid during COVID. The folks who engage in this type of behavior are impacted by this challenge because their behavior can result in injury. In addition, the staff and parents who work with these folks are impacted due to the risk they have of being injured during intervention.

Who it helps

Meet Luke. Luke is an 11-year-old boy who lives with autism. Luke loves to take apart things and use his hands! Luke does not use his words to communicate. Instead he uses his actions. Whenever he gets riled up, he expresses this through using his head and body to cause damage to other things, or himself.

Project details

• Stage: Challenge
• Built by the University of Michigan community, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America

An open-source assistive technology project shared free by TOM: Tikkun Olam Makers.

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