Straw

Title: Straw
Source: Autism Therapist from CESA 7
Behavior Objective: Given a teacher prompt, student will replace finger-biting behavior with chewing on a straw 100% of the opportunties given in those situations.
Content Area: Behavior Adaptation
Procedure: Autistic students sometimes have compulsive behaviors that they do when their hands are not busy, for example when on the computer, reading a book, or waiting for the teachers attention. The idea is to replace the finger/nail biting behavior with a straw. Make the straws available to the student so they will eventually use the straws in the setting required on their own, once they get use to it. The straw is a cheap tool that can be discarded of after it is used rather then a chew toy or tool that has to be sanitized and can get messy.
In addition to the straw, a social story with the straw as a replacement behavior for finger biting would be helpful.