Tips For Interacting with People on the Autism Spectrum





People on the autism spectrum may:
  • not understand what you say
  • appear deaf
  • be unable to speak or speak with difficulty
  • engage in repetitive behaviors
  • act upset for no apparent reason
  • appear insensitive to pain
  • appear anxious or nervous
  • dart away from you unexpectedly
  • engage in self-stimulating behaviors
    (i.e. Hand flapping or rocking)
Helpful hints for interaction:
  • Speak slowly and use simple language
  • Use concrete terms
  • Repeat simple questions
  • Allow time for responses
  • Give lots of praise
  • Do not attempt to physically block self-stimulating behavior
  • Remember that each person is unique and may act differently than another
Feel free to copy and paste these tips into your online posts or blogs to further understand of those with autism. -
www.autism-society.org

Comments

An even better way to learn how to interact with someone with autism is to just... interact with them. If they are verbal, ask them. Volunteer work is wonderful, and a way to get to know what ASDs are like.

I heard someone once say, "When you've met one autistic person, you've met one autistic person."

I guess lists like this chap my ass a little bit because they really don't reflect the reality that I live.

Really, hang out with a group of autistic kids and you'll see who they are, not just a list of symptoms. It's wonderful.
 
There was something on the news last night about an autistic teenage boy who lives here in Reno. He can speak with the help of a computer (I think, I wasn't really paying full attention), and he does volunteer work at one of the libraries and he holds a part-time job.
 
That's a good point Snoozan. The thing is natural interaction is easier if they are 'high functioning'. I think this list is geared for the more profoundly or obviously autistic. I think the average lay person doesn't realize just how intelligent many profoundly autistic people are. Granted their intelligence may be limited to one or two areas but still, you know what I mean . . . I think.
 
That's a good point Snoozan. The thing is natural interaction is easier if they are 'high functioning'. I think this list is geared for the more profoundly or obviously autistic. I think the average lay person doesn't realize just how intelligent many profoundly autistic people are. Granted their intelligence may be limited to one or two areas but still, you know what I mean . . . I think.
 
You really just have to spend time getting to know them as a person, just like you do with anyone else. I guess in some ways lists like that take the person out of the equation.

It's hard to tell when someone is autistic unless you're pretty attuned to it. I have autism-dar (like gaydar). A lot of times if you're confused, just ask.

The list does make sense to a point, but I really want to stress treating each ASD person as a unique individual.
 

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