you have to think out of the box. and out of yourcommfort zone a bit. First, how can he get a knife to do harm. They should be key locked away- yes they can, it's a pain in arse, but they can- everyone every time they are used- take em out, use em, wash/dry them, return them to locked. Same with matches, lighters, etc. Second, do what you have to do to get him in his own room and secure it if that's what it takes. Two bunk beds in one room=4 kids in one room. I slept in a room with two brothers- 1 single bed, 1 bunk and enough room for two dressers and us to walk between beds. let the kids whine about being cramped- it's your house, your family, third, you can buy a motion sensor alarm that will sound when he gets up, it can be mounted high on the cieling put it across his door, the speaker part is mobile and can be kept by your bedside. He opens the door and comes out into the hall, you get woken up and get him back to bed, Fourth, what type of services is he getting?? What about the county behaviorist and a plan for your family and him. Some are really good, some are poor and it depends on the agency and moreso on the individual clinician, but help is available- find it, be a bother till you get it, if you don't like the clinician ask for another, time after time, after time until you get one that make sense, fifth, you might not like the things offered in by the clinician, or think you can't do them, but you can and should. Parents often have a difficult time ignoring attention seeking behavior and responding to postive, not making eye contact or using verbal communication and relying on gestural prompting, etc when teaching skills, shaping behavior, or whatever else seems to work, don't be the weak link in the chain (this may deal more with day to day stuff than the actual up at night issue, but it's all part of the big picture), Sixth, respit help is available (again big picture, long term) everyone needs a break there are respit group homes available- overnight, weekends, etc, and often paid for through medicaide/medicare, ect. utilize them, You need a break from time to time. Again, there are wonderful companies running group homes out there and absolute horrors- do you homework. Good luck Keystonepaul
