Get a Calendar
This post for FAQautism.com will be very short because we are only sharing one point. If you really want to make someone happy in 2010, take your friend with autism shopping and let them pick out a calendar.
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Why a calendar? Nearly every person I know with autism – kid, teen, adult – is interested in dates. Because so much of our culture revolves around the day and the date, our friends hear the day and date frequently. Days fall in a predictable, continuous cycle week after week, month after month, year after year. The sequence never changes.
Although there is some difference in the total numbers of days in various months, the sequence of numbers is in a predictable, continuous cycle just as the days of the week. For whatever reason, many individuals with autism are intrigued with that regularity and order. Some to a point of being obsessed with days and dates.
You will want to let your friend select their own calendar, of course, but you might encourage them to get a calendar with larger boxes for each day. The box allows room for writing special events and standard happenings. Again, many people with autism thrive on predictable schedules. The calendar helps them anticipate upcoming events.
TIP FOR THE DAY: Don’t hesitate. This is the day to go shopping with your friend with autism so they can pick out their very own calendar.
And don’t hesitate to encourage your friends to click on http://FAQautism.com. We depend on word of mouth to let others know about this resource. Thanks for helping us out.
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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