FAQautism

We are all aware of the value of interacting casually with our friends with autism, but we also know of many issues that stand in the way of making personal connections. Our time and energy are limited. Some individuals with autism actually resist social interaction, seem to ignore our friendly conversation, or even appear oblivious to people in their lives. How can we overcome these stumbling blocks?

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One effective but easy-to-implement strategy for making personal connections is to simply hang around our friends with autism. No money, lesson plans, or training is required. Just take time to sit side-by-side in the lunchroom or on a porch swing. Walk along side your friend when heading toward recess or the grocery store. Take a stroll out to pick up the newspaper or to take some papers to the school office. Turn off the television occasionally and play a game or read a book together.

Take time each day to do some casual, low-pressure activities together. Many people with autism thrive on predictable routine. Make it a regular part of your dat to work together in preparing a snack, reading the daily comics, or walking the dog. Some of my friends with autism are somewhat obsessed with organization, so they actually enjoy tasks like folding laundry, filling the birdfeeder, or loading the dishwasher.

Other people with autism refuse to participate in activities and resist any attempts at conversation or interaction. In this case, our very presence is a personal connection. One family moves their son’s favorite rocking chair into the kitchen when mom is cooking supper, in the yard when his brothers are playing, and in the living room when the family relaxes in the evenings. They weren’t certain if he even noticed this routine until one day dad looked up to see the teenager dragging his rocking chair into the living room when the rest of the family was gathered around the computer looking at some vacation photos.

TIP FOR THE DAY: These are just a few ideas for developing connections in spite of busy schedules and challenging issues that stand in the way of personal interaction.

We appreciate your taking five minutes from your busy schedule each day to listen or read our daily posts. We know your time if valuable, so we work hard to provide concise, to-the-point, practical information. Share this resource with your colleagues, friends, and family http://FAQautism.com

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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