Building Confidence and Safety
Autism New Jersey is proud to have recently hosted its second Ukeru caregiver training, bringing together 14 caregivers for a full day of learning practical, restraint-free strategies to safely manage challenging behavior.
Building on the success of its first training in February, the October 16 event provided families with hands-on instruction focused on prevention, de-escalation, and responding safely during challenging situations. The training emphasized maintaining safety and dignity while helping caregivers build confidence in supporting their loved ones at home and in the community.
Ukeru, which means “receive” in Japanese, promotes an approach to challenging behavior grounded in comfort rather than control. Participants learned about the impact of trauma on behavior and practiced techniques designed to protect themselves and their loved ones without the use of restraint.
For many families caring for their loved ones with profound autism and severe challenging behavior, these strategies offer much-needed tools to navigate difficult situations.
The feedback from participating caregivers reflected both the practical value of the training and the importance of making these opportunities available to families.
“This training was excellent,” shared one caregiver. “We were offered simple and effective strategies for a variety of real situations to utilize that don’t involve restraint. These tools will definitely be helpful at home and in the community.”
Another caregiver shared how meaningful it was to gain a deeper understanding of their loved one’s challenges and learn new ways to support them in everyday life.
“I feel I understand certain aspects better now and will be employing the techniques going forward for everyone’s benefit. Thank you to Autism NJ and Ukeru for bringing this to families!!”
Beyond the strategies themselves, participants expressed appreciation for the opportunity to connect with others who understand the challenges they face.
“I really appreciate having the opportunity to sit in that room with so many supportive people to learn new things to help my family live a more conflict-free life,” shared one participant.
For Autism New Jersey staff, the opportunity to connect directly with caregivers and provide meaningful support is equally important.
"Creating opportunities for families to keep themselves safe is exactly why we do this work." said Darren Blough and Amy Golden of Autism New Jersey. "We know how challenging everyday life can be for families supporting loved ones with severe challenging behavior. Seeing caregivers come together, learn new strategies, and leave feeling more confident and supported makes this an incredibly rewarding day for both of us. We're grateful to Ukeru for helping us make these opportunities possible."
The training reflects Autism New Jersey's ongoing commitment to improving access to resources and support for individuals with profound autism and severe challenging behavior. Through its 800.4.AUTISM Helpline and direct engagement with families, the organization continues to hear about the challenges caregivers face in keeping their loved ones and themselves safe.
By connecting families with practical tools, training, and one another, Autism New Jersey hopes to help create safer, more supportive environments for individuals with autism and those who care for them.
As one caregiver shared following the event, "The work you do is invaluable! …know that you are making such a huge difference in people’s lives!"