Completers: A Common but Overlooked Challenge

One of the most common (and most misunderstood) challenges we see in our students is something we call being a "completer.” About half of the learners in Nonverbal Autism Homeschool fall into this category — and chances are, if you’re reading this, your child might too.

So what is a completer?

A completer is a student who experiences physical or psychological difficulty stopping a task before it feels “done.” This behavior is not a matter of noncompliance or a lack of intellectual understanding — it's often rooted in OCD tendencies, the extinguish phase of motor planning, or a deep need for predictability and follow-through. In short: our students' brains or bodies won't allow them to move on until the current action reaches a clear endpoint.

For some students, this might look like needing to finish their entire morning routine before leaving the house. Or, they may need to watch an entire YouTube video before transitioning into a new task. This is not done out of defiance, but because their brain is stuck in the loop of completing what it started. If you’ve ever sat in the driveway waiting for your favorite song to finish before heading inside, or stayed up too late finishing a puzzle, you’ve experienced a tiny sliver of what this feels like.

For other students, being a completer shows up in more academic settings. Imagine a math lesson using counting bears: your student is supposed to count out 5 bears, but instead moves all 25 from one pile to the other. It’s not that they can’t count — it’s that their motor system won’t allow them to stop at 5. Their body is completing the pattern. Their nervous system demands closure.

And yes, the previews for the sequel to The Accountant inspired me to write this post. Ben Affleck's character is definitely a completer.

Completer behavior can make traditional lessons challenging, if not downright frustrating, for both student and parent. That’s why Nonverbal Autism Homeschool is designed with these students in mind.

Our predictable schoolwork routines and offers of choices to students reduce the internal resistance many completers feel. And just as important, we talk about it. Our Zoom coaching sessions are full of practical discussions about how to support Completers, modifying ways they show mastery and helping parents recognize the difference between a stuck body or a stuck mind, and lack of academic understanding.

Because here’s the truth:
🧠 A child may not be “choosing” to complete a task — their brain may be demanding it.
❤️ When we accommodate that need, we reduce anxiety and open the door to learning.
✅ And when we don’t force premature transitions, we build trust that learning doesn’t have to mean constant interruption.

At Nonverbal Autism Homeschool, we believe that understanding the way your child learns is just as important as what you teach. That’s why our program offers not only robust curriculum and structured lesson plans — but also real parent support, from people who’ve been there.

So whether your student is a completer or not, we’re here to help you teach with confidence, compassion, and the insight they deserve.