Follow the Crowd
Most people learn naturally by following the lead of other people, imitating what they do and say. But many individuals with autism do not notice what is happening around them. In this case, we may need to provide a boost to help them pay attention to social cues and follow the crowd when appropriate.
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Granted, it is very difficult to force a person to notice the people around them and to follow their lead. Some of my friends with autism are inattentive to their environment and rather oblivious to external events. Others seem to view other people as part of the landscape or as inanimate objects that dispense food or items on request. Some individuals with autism “go through the motions” when asked to follow a specific direction or when another person is providing hand-over-hand guidance.
In a school setting, for example, youngster with autism may not notice that other kids have lined up for recess, or that everyone is leaving the cafeteria after lunch. Day after day we notice they aren’t coming when the group is called, so we usually call their name rather impatiently, saying, “You need to pay attention.” Although some students with autism are purposefully incompliant, others simply do not follow social cues and do not focus on instructions unless their name is called.
In this case, the long-term goal is to follow the cue of other students when they line up. Rather than fussing at the youngster every day, we need to break the long-term goal into small tasks and help the youngster learn each step in the process. Long-winded instructions and nagging usually do not work, so we can use short, specific phrases and picture cues, then give the youngster enough time to process the information and follow through. So, for example, we can touch his elbow lightly and say, “Look, Sammy. Follow the kids.” Then show him a picture of kids standing in a line, and wait patiently and quietly, allowing him time to initiate the action. If he does not do so, repeat the process several times. Then guide him gently toward the line if necessary.
TIP FOR THE DAY. Although it is time consuming to teach basis skills step by step, the effort pays big dividends over the life span of an individual with autism as he learns to follow social cues and go along with the crowd.
NOTE TO READERS AND LISTENERS: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. Feel free to send me a confidential email at talk@FAQautism.com with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solution. And don’t forget to check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. http://FAQautism.com
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