Help please!

[marcum]

I am the step-mom of a 9-yr-old autistic boy, Javan. He is highly functional yet still displays a lot of autistic challenges. Recently, he called my husband and me hysterically upset. His mom decided to use "hot-saucing" as a punishment for not listening! For those of you unaware, this is a techinique that is illegal in some states in which hot sauce is placed in a child's mouth to teach a lesson. It is a much crueler version of washing out the mouth with soap. My husband and I are very concerned about this and, though we have informed his special-needs teacher about this, we need some facts and data to present to Javan's mom to convince her to stop doing this. I can't even imagine what this poor angel went thru with hot sauce burning his mouth and throat.
Suggestions and advice please!

[Mira11]

How horrible!! Aversives do not work. She sounds overwhelmed and what she needs is a behavioral psychologist to work with her to teach her positive methods to manage. Ask the teacher to make this referral and also have your husband tell her that for the sake of his son, she must not do this again. A children's services referral may also have to be made. I would be surprised if the teacher that you told about this hasn't already made the referral. Continue to keep a close watch on things.