Need a REALLY strong gate for room opening

[Kelleyaynn]

This question is for the woodworkers, carpenters, etc. out there. My son is severly autistic, and when we need to get something done (like make dinner) we contain him in our empty dining room. One of the entrances to the dining room is right off the entrance foyer, and it is essentially missing a wall - the opening is 8 feet wide. We managed to find a pet gate that fit the opening, but he has by now destroyed the gate - he is too big and active, and it was too flimsy.

Any ideas how I can keep him in the room without resorting to major destruction/construction? We can't put a wall there, and no door is that big. I'm thinking somehow fitting 2 x 4's across, but can't think of how to attach them to the wall. I'd like to be able to remove them, if possible. Essentially "fence" him in.

Any ideas????

[Cliffmeister2000]

How old is your son?

I don't know why you couldn't put a wall, but could you put a pony wall? If not, how about ornamental wrought iron? Or, if iron would be dangerous, something like a stair rail? Then you could put a 1/2 door in it.

[Kelleyaynn]

I realize that I need to provide more information.

My son is 14, a small 14, but getting bigger.

I want to avoid major construction. Putting up a wall would be major construction. A stair rail sounds good, but we have hardwood flooring, and that would ruin it, I think. Whatever I do must attach to the walls on either side only. It can't permanently attach to the floor. Now if there is a way to attach the stair rail only to the walls.....

One issue is that since it attaches only on the sides, and the opening is 8 feet wide, the middle of the gate tends to be unstable and wobble. I'm not sure there is even a moderately easy solution to the problem, but I thought I'd see what the collective wisdom out there says.

[boomboomtulum]

How about in home care or your spouse where is he or she? If I got to the point that I had to build a cage for my son so I could make dinner I would think exploring other means of care would be more appropiate.
Yes, I am not in your position but building something to detain a person in your home sounds a little barbaric.
Perhaps check with your local County Health & Human services dept. with advise on care suggestions.
Now with that said security doors are availble at HD & Lowes you could see through them and it would not appear to be a cage. Yu could mount it on the inside of the room with minimal bolting and would be easy to remove and patch. Are there windows in this room? Would he possably hurt himself on the glass trying to get out? What will others think of a in home prison?
Just my thoughts....

[madjack]

Ka, you say, 14 and growing...due to that fact, I feel you will havvta rethink your "major construction" restriction and build a wall...put a door init if you have to...if there is a good reason to not connect to floor, then build the wall to fit opening and connect to the sides and possibly top...leave plate all the way across at bottom, even if you install a door...I know you don't wanna but anything else I could think of just would not hold up to 14 and growing............
madjack

[Shadow Catcher]

I am in the autism spectrum at the aspergers end of things and I am a social worker.
Unless you have dealt with those at the other end of the spectrum lets not be talking cruel and unusual. Restraint is something you do for the client, and with some one in the spectrum something they want and need. As an example deep pressure can be comforting and needed. I talked with one fellow social worker who has a son with a custom made mattress that is a cut out of his body.
I am assuming you are getting professional help? what do they suggest?
Lets try a couple of ideas. You are thinking of ridged, it need not be. How about a rope spiderweb, it may need a rod at the bottom to keep it from being lifted up and you would need fairly substantial hooks/fasteners at either end.
Have you tried a deep touch squeeze machine like that of Temple Grandin there are plans on her web site and time out in something of that nature. A vac bed.
If you wish to PM I will send a phone number and can perhaps hook you up with some resources.

[Jiminsav]

Bi-fold doors with brackets on the inside to slide a 2X4 down to keep him from pushing it open..

[eatatjoz]

Bed Web.
He's 14 and shooting up like a rocket. I know it's made for a truck bed, but seems like a decent solution.
You can watch the boy, and still keep him safe.
Easy to stow too.

[Miriam C.]

I am in the autism spectrum at the aspergers end of things and I am a social worker.
Unless you have dealt with those at the other end of the spectrum lets not be talking cruel and unusual. Restraint is something you do for the client, and with some one in the spectrum something they want and need. As an example deep pressure can be comforting and needed. I talked with one fellow social worker who has a son with a custom made mattress that is a cut out of his body.
I am assuming you are getting professional help? what do they suggest?
Lets try a couple of ideas. You are thinking of ridged, it need not be. How about a rope spiderweb, it may need a rod at the bottom to keep it from being lifted up and you would need fairly substantial hooks/fasteners at either end.
Have you tried a deep touch squeeze machine like that of Temple Grandin there are plans on her web site and time out in something of that nature. A vac bed.
If you wish to PM I will send a phone number and can perhaps hook you up with some resources.

The best advice will always come from someone who knows...

You can put in a 2x4 wall frame attached to the walls and add plexy glass so the boy can see you. You can also add stickys to the glass so he can have something to do. A door at one side will allow you access and if you use paint can look fairly decent! You shouldn't need to frame quite as close with the glass as it should help to strengthen the box. Also if you put some felt on the bottom it will help preserve your floors. Oh yeah and make the door out of plexy! That will take up 35+ inches.

[Kelleyaynn]

Thank you for your ideas.

[rebapuck]

I like the idea of the closet doors. They don't have to be bi-fold. But installing a track is DIY and removable with minimal damage.

Closet rod holders (the round disks) could hold up the ends of a rod. Use two horizontal rods and fill in with something.

[rbeemer]

you can build a gate so to speak but maybe make it 4 feet tall and 4 feet wide.. You would build 2 of them that you could latch together in the middle, also put casters on them to protect your floors.

The hinges should be placed to only open up into the room.

[Redgloves]

Raising a child with autism is a life long challenge based upon his functioning level. Kelleyann has taken a brave step inquiring on this forum searching for ideas on how to keep her son safe in the home. Impulse control is a life long issue. A co-worker installed door chimes and locks his son in the bedroom at night so the family members could sleep.....

Bifold doors will not be strong enough to keep a young teenager contained.

I work in home health, the possibility of having a care provider come in while family prepares a meal is not realistic. Volunteers would be the only option, which requires a huge network.

Jean

[perche]

Hi Kelleyaynn.

I have an autistic son, very active also, not severe but challenging enough. Yup, out of the box thinking is generally needed in addressing most problems.

My first thought was a sturdy gate on rollers. Second thought, probably better, would be kitchen cabinets on rollers that would swing out when you want a larger access but visually more thick and daunting for him to try to force apart. Added storage space/counter tops a bonus. Would keep the top area clear so he doesn't feel shut off and give you visual access (and emergency hop over access). You could make it very stable with a hard counter on top, 4 rollers on the bottom of each side segment. Get some serious metal hardware hinges for the wall and a heavy duty gate hinge for the middle connection. Use a padlock or sturdy rod to reinforce the center connection, if needed.

Just a thought. A picture of your kitchen/dining area might be helpful for brainstorming other ideas if this won't work.

HTH.

Randi

P.S. Just another thought. If you made the rolling cabinets thick, about 2 1/2 foot across, you would have approximately 3 foot walkway clearance when swung open. You could install cabinet doors on both sides with a central divider and stock "his" side with things he likes to do, while you still have some extra kitchen storage space on your side. You could secure it with a hinge on the counter top, if it wouldn't bug you too much.

P.P.S. Sorry, reread and realized I misunderstood. If you want to keep him out of the foyer, it might work with high cabinets on wheels. Sometimes out of sight is out of mind. If it's an escape from the house issue, I use combination padlocks placed up high.

[rebapuck]

Bookcases, side by side.