Ten Things People with Autism Wish You Knew

People with autism struggle at times with communication and social skills. They may display behaviors that don’t seem “normal” even though they typically look normal on the outside.

While much more knowledge and acceptance of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been gained in recent years, there’s still a lot that people don’t know about it. It’s particularly hard for people who don’t regularly interact with individuals on the autism spectrum to understand how autism affects someone, what it means and how they can help.

People on the autism spectrum may not be able to express exactly how they feel or what they want in the same way that neurotypical individuals can, but there are plenty of things they’d like everyone else to know.

Below are 10 things people with autism wish you knew about them and their developmental disability.

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ONE: Autism Doesn’t Define Them

People with autism face certain challenges in their day-to-day lives that others don’t. That doesn’t mean their autism defines who they are, though. It’s only a single aspect of who they are.

Just like other people aren’t defined by some of their afflictions — such as having to wear glasses, not being good at math or not being physically-fit — people with autism shouldn’t be defined by autism, either.

TWO: Their Sensory Perceptions May Be Disordered

People with autism often face sensory challenges because their perceptions are disordered. This means that typical everyday things in life that many people don’t notice can completely throw off an individual with autism.

Things such as loud sounds, bright lights, certain materials and strong smells can completely throw them off.

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THREE: They May Not Understand

Sometimes, it’s not that a person with autism doesn’t want to do something, it’s that they can’t because they don’t understand what is being told to them. Communication as a whole is a challenge, especially since individuals on the autism spectrum may not understand non-verbal cues such as facial expressions.

It’s best to use plain language if you’re asking for something or want a child with autism to do something.

FOUR: They May Need a Break

Those on the autism spectrum may need a separate, quiet space where they can go and self-regulate. They can get overwhelmed quickly — as mentioned above with sensory perceptions — and may just need to re-center themselves at times.

This is especially true in foreign environments or big social settings.

FIVE: Setting up Transitions is Important

People with autism do best when they have a strict routine and they stick to it. Sometimes, even the slightest adjustments to that routine can cause major issues.

That’s why it’s so important to set up transitions properly from one activity to the next. Giving a countdown for when one activity is going to end and the next one is going to start might be helpful to some.

SIX: They Need Calming Support and Help

When people with autism get overwhelmed and exhibit certain behaviors such as throwing a tantrum, they need the help of others to center them again. At this point, it’s very important not to make things even worse by exhibiting inflammatory behavior.

It can be challenging, even for adults, but it’s essential to try to remain calm and support them, rather than yelling or expressing frustration.

SEVEN: They Do Best When Offered Tangible Choices

Open-ended questions can be difficult for individuals with autism to process. They typically do best when given tangible choices.

For instance, instead of asking, “What do you want for lunch?” offer them a choice between a turkey sandwich and peanut butter and jelly. This goes for any situation in which the individual will have an option.

EIGHT: They Are Visually Oriented

Communication is a major challenge for many individuals on the autism spectrum. But, while words may be hard to come by — and hard to understand — pictures and visual cues are not as challenging.

Having visual aids goes a long way in helping them achieve what you want them to, and showing them how to do something versus telling them will almost always be more successful.

NINE: They Have a Lot of Strengths

So much of how others approach autism focuses on what individuals can’t do rather than what they can do. People with autism can be very intelligent, funny, creative, witty and so much more.

They can do so much. So, try focusing on their strengths as much as you focus on their challenges, and they’re more likely to succeed.

TEN: They Need Your Confidence and Love

Ultimately, people with autism wish that you knew that they can do anything, as long as they’re encouraged and supported to do so. Yes, it might be more challenging for them, but it doesn’t mean they won’t eventually learn and excel.

Individuals with autism need the support from those around them, confidence in their ability to do anything in life and, most importantly, love.

Blue Gems ABA Helps People with Autism Build Skills

There’s so much about autism that isn’t understood by people who aren’t directly affected by it. Understanding the above 10 statements will help others better understand, and support, people on the autism spectrum.

En Blue Gems ABA, we are dedicated to helping children on the autism spectrum gain the social, communication and daily life skills that they may struggle with. We do this by administering applied behavioral analysis, or ABA therapy.

This science-based approach to learning and behavior has been proven to work.

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