Expert: Paul Johnson - 9/9/2008

Question
My six year old autistic daughter (high functioning) always runs away wildly whenever we are in a public setting. Since she is a twin (her brother also autistic but not a runner) It makes it very difficult to go anywhere. The more you go after her the wilder she get. She also screams when  you try holding her hand. I tryed walking the other way, ignoring her, threatening punishment, nothing works. It is a repetitive behavior. She also was diagnosed with oppositional defiant behavior and has sensory issues

Answer
Hey Susan,

Thank you for your important question.Your daughter's behaviors are as much indicative of attachments issues as it is Autistic and repetitive. As such there has to be a bond made with her that can be generalized to the general population. I know this is going to be difficult because it is other people that is creating the anxiety.
There will need to be some type of approximations done like walk out in a small gathering with her twin brother and your self and maybe an attachment figure like a teddy bear. They're familiar items, and will likely serve to sooth her while she is in an anxiety producing place. Doing this in bigger and bigger gatherings will slowly aclimate her to the "comforts" of being in public. I am not sure how else to go about creating an acceptance of social gathering than this. I agree that disciplining her will not likely produce the desired results.