Home Base is a strategy or an environmental structure that is used to provide support to an ASD child to help them to deal with their anxiety and or stress. Home Base is a location that is used to prepare or review events, to take a break, to regain control during or after a meltdown, to recover from a meltdown, or to cope with unpredictable situations. The Home Base location can be anywhere that the child feels comfortable and safe. The location needs to provide consistency, structure and supervision. One example that was used was for a child that liked small enclosed spaces, so they setup a tent in the classroom with pillows, low-lighting and a weighted blanket to allow for this child to feel comfortable. Other ideas for Home Base might be an office, a corner in the classroom, a rocking chair, etc.
The time spent at Home Base is not meant to be an avoidance technique because students still need to complete work, but this allows them to do the work in an environment where the student is comfortable. Home Base should also never be used as a punishment. A different space needs to be utilized for punishment because the Home Base needs to be a safe place.
There are several reasons for a student to go to Home Base. First, staff can choose to have the student go to their Home Base if they see anxiety and or stress beginning to escalate. Next, Home Base could be used as a check-in and out location where students meet with a support person to go over the day and any challenges the student may face during the day (e.g. A substitute teacher). The final way is for the student to determine that Home Base is where they need to be. The ultimate goal is for the ASD student to be able to self-regulate their emotions and notice when they need there break.
There are several reasons for a student to go to Home Base. First, staff can choose to have the student go to their Home Base if they see anxiety and or stress beginning to escalate. Next, Home Base could be used as a check-in and out location where students meet with a support person to go over the day and any challenges the student may face during the day (e.g. A substitute teacher). The final way is for the student to determine that Home Base is where they need to be. The ultimate goal is for the ASD student to be able to self-regulate their emotions and notice when they need there break.
This would have been a wonderful strategy to utilize when I had an ASD student who would shutdown several times during class. He would curl up into a ball and disrupt the entire class by making noises as he rocked. If I would have had the Home Base strategy in my teaching toolbox I could have headed off some of his meltdowns. I could have implemented the Home Base strategy for him by creating a space in the classroom for him to go to when he was feeling stressed or anxious and he would have been more willing to do his assignment when in that space. This would have also given him time to refocus and given him control of his own behavior. It would have also solved some of the disruptions in the classroom.
I would know that this intervention was working if he would have been able to make the decision to go to Home Base when he was beginning to have a meltdown. Another indicator could be if the classroom teacher’s suggestion that Home Base would be a good place for them at the moment and they go there without an argument.
I would know that this intervention was working if he would have been able to make the decision to go to Home Base when he was beginning to have a meltdown. Another indicator could be if the classroom teacher’s suggestion that Home Base would be a good place for them at the moment and they go there without an argument.
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