Autism During and Post Education

Male,Psychologist,Working,With,Little,Boy,In,Office.,Autism,Concept

April is National Autism Awareness Month, and April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day. Autism as a concept and a condition has grown an exponential amount over the past 20 years, but this exposure and awareness must continue to make our world more open and accommodating for those whose brains and/or bodies work differently than others. Diversity is beautiful and makes our world richer and more unique. We want to preserve and enrich this in any way possible.

A recent study revealed that one in thirty-six children are diagnosed with autism every year.

Autism, specifically, is a condition that is constantly growing and evolving. A recent study revealed that one in thirty-six children are diagnosed with autism every year when just twenty years ago it was one in one hundred and fifty. This uptick of diagnoses is due to a better awareness of autism and the expansion of autism diagnosis criteria. With this improvement and gained knowledge, there needs to be more exposure and public knowledge about this vast spectrum.

School

School is one of the toughest places for many people, but especially those with autism. Most are diagnosed between the ages of three and seventeen, meaning that they must navigate K-12 school with this condition. This can be extremely difficult as some autistic kids struggle with sensory issues, communication, fine motor skills, and many others. School should be a rewarding experience for everyone involved, meaning students, teachers, staff, and parents. Bringing awareness and providing education about autism and ways to help individuals with this condition in the school environment will help normalize it. This can start with teachers.

Teachers

There are lots of steps to take as a teacher to make your teaching style and classroom more autistic friendly. This can include, but isn’t limited to, a more sensory-friendly classroom, learning and researching emotional management tactics for kids, talking to the parents of your autistic students, as well as lots of patience and hard work. Connecting with autistic kids, especially those on the far end of the spectrum, can be slow-going, but when you make that bond, it can be life-changing for you and your student. Keep in mind that learning and connection don’t happen overnight, so be kind to yourself if your techniques don’t work right away.

The following tasks and tactics might seem daunting or unconventional right away, but chances are tactics that work for certain autistic kids will also work for other neuro-divergent kids in the classroom:

Writing down lengthy instructions so kids don’t have to try to remember them and the order.
Providing consistency, repetition, and structure as most autistic kids thrive on routine.
Providing visual aids because some autistic kids can think exclusively in pictures and thus verbal instructions can be difficult.
Provide them with fewer choices, as fewer options will help them make decisions.
If you have the time and space, figure out what your autistic kids hyper focus on, and then tailor their learning to this hyperfocus as this could help them learn other subjects.

Parents

One of the best education and exposure tools is word of mouth. If your child has autistic classmates and friends educate them about how their classmates’ brains operate. But remember to please do this in an open and accepting way. Spread the notion that autistic people may operate a little differently than others, but that doesn’t mean they are stupid or weird. This is such an important part of autistic awareness, growth, and acceptance.

Try talking to your children about people they know who have autism. Remind your kids that they might have to be a little more patient or accommodating with their autistic friends. If your kids have friends or classmates who have autism, try planning activities that play to both kids’ strengths. Those on the spectrum usually love a select few topics and planning an activity based on one could be a recipe for a beautiful friendship.

If your child is on the autistic spectrum, you, as a parent or guardian, are essential. Lots of parents and caregivers are their autistic child’s lifeline. Whether your child finds out they have autism earlier or later in life, it’s important for both you and them to understand that autism isn’t a disease. Autism is purely a term to describe someone whose brain operates differently than the average person. The biggest part of being a parent of autism is supporting your child. They have hobbies, interests, and strengths just like anyone else, so look for those and encourage them.

Being a parent or caregiver to someone with autism and experiencing the joys and hardships that come with that is too much to fit into one small paragraph, so here are just a few overall tips to start.

Autism is something that is constantly changing so staying up to date on what psychologists and psychotherapists are discovering is extremely important.
If your kid just discovered, they have autism consider booklets and pamphlets to get started and figure out how best to help your autistic child.
Talk to autistic adults and see what has helped and hurt them in their life journey.
Seek professional help and/or join a local support group.
Try behavior therapy.

After High School, Turning 18

Autistic adults are something that aren’t discussed very often and have only just become a more recent topic of discussion. Autism doesn’t just disappear when someone turns 18. Autistic adults can look very different depending on the person and their situation. Some adults with autism can function relatively well on their own and have the functionality to pay their rent, do their own grocery shopping, and generally take care of themselves. However, other adults with autism might still live with their caregivers because they need some extra help caring for themselves.

When someone with autism turns 18 and legally becomes an adult, it can involve many new and different changes. Most turn 18 in their senior year of high school and conquering life steps after high school can be daunting. Life after high school for those with autism can involve lots of different scenarios. Some with autism will go on to college, others to trade school or co-op education programs but some will remain with their caregivers. This raises the question of what can happen if parents or a caregiver can’t take care of their autistic loved one anymore?

If this is the case and your autistic loved one needs help caring for themselves, there are many options to choose from. Most adults with autism live at home with family or loved ones but for those who don’t have that option alternative housing options include adult foster care, group homes, cooperative living, supervised living, supported living, and developmental centers. All these options are fantastic and can be tailored to each individual’s needs and wants.

But no matter what the situation, everyone with autism needs a sense of independence! Many people with autism have trouble with independence and so teach and help them to have some control over their own life and choices. If this seems extremely overwhelming, start small with activities like getting dressed by themselves, or learning a self-care routine, and then expand by joining a club, or volunteering somewhere they love. Teach them how to manage their money, safety skills and self-care tactics. This will help set them up for living more independently, whether that be with their guardian, a group home, or on their own. Just because someone has autism doesn’t mean they can’t have some autonomy over their own life and choices.

Take a Deep Breath

Like anything in life, autism can be hard and overwhelming, so remember to take a deep breath and relax. These techniques, surveys, and studies are enabling the world of autism to grow and expand to be a normalized, well-known, supported concept. Please keep educating yourself and your loved ones on autism. If the world of autism keeps expanding the way it is, autism will quickly become a normalized, integrated condition.

Autism Resources for Caring Loved Ones

References:

Top Autism Resources for Teachers and Schools (weareteachers.com)

booklet-interior-4.1.pdf (autisticadvocacy.org)

Sincerely, Your Autistic Child

References:

Autism and School Anxiety: 13 Tips to Help ASD Kids Cope in the Classroom (merakilane.com)

Data & Statistics on Autism Spectrum Disorder | CDC

Chart: The Rising Prevalence of Autism | Statista

Top Autism Resources for Teachers and Schools (weareteachers.com)

10 Effective Tips for Teaching Children With Autism in 2022 (positiveaction.net)

How to be friends with a child who has autism – Today’s Parent (todaysparent.com)