Ideas for supporting individuals with autism
Spreading autism awareness is a great way to celebrate April and promote inclusion and acceptance for individuals with special needs. Hope Residence is home to several residents who live with autism; nationwide, about 1 in 68 children has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ASD is about 4.5 times more common among boys than girls.
One of the best resources for supporting individuals with ASD comes from the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI), which serves families, educators, and professionals working with students with autism and low-incidence disabilities. OCALI offers a list of 10 tips for supporting individuals with ASD. I’ve highlighted a few tips below, adding my thoughts as well.
- Turn down the noise and lights. Provide headphones for transition times, like riding the bus to work. This will help block out the loud background noise, which may be overwhelming. Loud or sudden noises are especially stressful. Fluorescent lights can be bothersome: Try to incorporate natural light as much as possible.
- Listen or look for the message behind the behavior. Some individuals with autism are not able to communicate needs verbally. Pay close attention to what they are doing, as they may be communicating a like or dislike for something, for example, loud vocalization, repetitive movements, rocking, jumping up and down, throwing something, covering their face, walking away.
- Say what you mean and communicate your clearly. Keep your explanation simple and step-by-step, and avoid using slang words or humor that may not be understood. Don’t expect an immediate response.
- When in doubt, write it out or use pictures. Individuals with autism are often visual learners, and following a consistent schedule or routine is typically very important. Use simple pictures or words to outline the activities for the day. Review it with them at the beginning of the day or prior to transitioning to another event.
- Change your approach. Be sure to talk in a calm voice and at a slower rate, so an individual has adequate time to understand what you are saying.
- Give choices. Allowing choices gives a sense of control and should be offered as much as possible.
- Be patient. Avoiding rushing the person and allow time between transitions. Again, use pictures to help communicate what is going to happen.
- Honor special interests. Any time you can bring something they enjoy into their daily routine is a good thing. This will provide comfort and will increase overall cooperation and interest.
Hope Residence provides an extensive array of services to support and enhance the lives of residents dealing with disabilities such as down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, ataxia and epilepsy. Schedule a tour to see how Hope Residence supports residents with autism.