Autism Change - 5 Ways to Minimize the Negative Impact of Change for Autism

Autism Changechild has difficulty understanding time with a
Extreme change can be difficult for the typicalstandard calendar, use visual supports to help
human making to sell with, but for a personthem understand time. For instance, if he or she
among Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD),relates time with day, creating a visual of a sun
significantly the littlest change can befor each day and then a visual of a house on the
overwhelming. It is not uncommon for autistics toactual moving day, will tell them how much time is
suffer trouble adjusting to a diverse schedule suchleft before the move.
a breaks from a daily routine. Autism Change2. Story books – Depending on your
child’s level of comprehension, another helpful
• Verbal outburstfamiliarizing tool is to read story books focused on
• Cryingmoving home themes.
• Self-injury3. “Social Stories” – This is a specific
• Aggressionlearning program that helps autistics understand
• Extreme withdrawalthe reasons for situations they may find confusing
The following are 5 ways in which you canor difficult. Autism Change
minimize the negative impact of change by helpingSocial stories describe a specific situation in detail
an autistic person become aware, prepared andand focuses on a few key factors such as vital
involved in the moving process: Autism Changesocial cues, the actual event, and the reactions a
1. Calendar – Creating a calendar to help themperson may expect during the situation and why.
become aware and prepared for moving can beSocial stories not only help to increase a level of
helpful. Once you know the definite day you areunderstanding, they can also help an autistic child
moving, give notice months before moving day.feel more comfortable when experiencing an
You can cross off each day that passes, so theyevent, and provide them with clues on how to
can see how many days are left until moving day.react. Don't let your love ones suffer anymore!
Make sure you Write “Moving Day” onLead them out through Autism Change program
the actual date so they can always see it. If yournow!