I installed a filtering/control software on our kids system a few weeks ago. The software sends me an email every time someone requests a new password to either bypass the controls or uninstall the software. I get daily updates letting me know a new password has been requested. This new software package has really disrupted my oldest autistic sons internet browsing and computer use.
My son likes to use the computer. It is one of his few places of solace and control. The PC is the one thing that is predictable in his life...sort of. Several months ago he discovered the world of YOUTUBE while looking up online tours of the Tillamook Cheese Factory. Since then we have all discovered how rude the rest of the world can be. Caio, Caio! of all things, buttheads have taken clips of Caio, the cartoon about a rather anxious child, and turned them into perverted renditions with dialogue that is the sign of non creative minds. Anyhow, I tried the "parental" control level provided on youtube, and they filtered some but not all of this crap out. So, the next level, local parental controls.
The software allows us to set time frames of when the internet is available and what level of internet content can be accessed. The content level is updated frequently from other users, plus we can add specific sites that are either allowed or not allowed. So the kids can access NetFLix where we can monitor and control the content, and not access YouTube...at all. But this introduction of control on our end has made it visible to our ASD kiddo that his control over the medium is not what he thought it was. Very distressing. He ends up in tears often as he begs for us to remove this control system.
But I like the end result. He knows exactly when internet access is allowed, and when it has been turned off. He has subconsciously scheduled his time around this access time. Which means he has also found other things to do when the internet is not available, like going outside and swinging. But the tears are persuasive, sometimes.
The next obstacle, figuring out how to limit and control access to the Wii.
