Earlier this year I created a super unimaginatively titled article called, ‘20 Ideal Hobbies, Activities and Sports for People with Autism’ which, to little surprise, discussed 20 ideal hobbies, activities and sports for people with autism. However, despite my best efforts to make this post as comprehensive as possible at the time, upon publishing it, I quickly received feedback from members of the autistic community who showed me that my ‘comprehensive’ list wasn’t quite as comprehensive as I thought.
So, to put things right, today I wanted to create an article discussing ‘10 MORE Hobbies, Activities and Sports for People with Autism’ using your feedback from the previous post (as well as 2 inclusions which I can’t believe I missed the first time).
(Disclaimer: I will try to give credit where credit is due, but in the interest of privacy I will only be using first names and details of where the suggestion came from. ALSO, it probably goes without saying, but if you missed the original article be sure to check that out first)
1. Yoga
The first suggestion which I received shortly after uploading my past article onto Twitter was a gem of a suggestion and it came from someone who goes by the name Gem (I’m sorry Gem, I know that I an awful joke but I couldn’t help myself).
Gem discussed how her autistic son had really taken to Yoga recently and mentioned that short but intense sessions were his favourite. She even recommended a YouTube channel which teaches the basics of Yoga and it was one that heavily features a dog that joins in (what’s not to love?).
As well as many of the classic benefits which have come to be associated with Yoga: it’s a great work out, it’s not too complicated and it’s got a relatively low entry level. Yoga is especially good for autistic people as it can be an incredible way to find inner peace from common complications, such as anxiety or other mental health problems. It has also been noted that Yoga can help autistic people to better regulate our emotions and although I haven’t found any concrete evidence for this, it is certainly worth a try!
2. Photography
They say that ‘a picture speaks a thousand words’, which is why when Lance from Twitter mentioned that photography had been his autistic interest for over 10 years, I couldn’t believe that I hadn’t even considered adding it to the original list.
Autistic people can often struggle to turn our thoughts into sentences which is why the opportunity to have an interest which can be shared and discussed non-verbally, not only seems ideal but also turns out to be great fun.
With so many different options for equipment and editing software, photography has also become great for releasing the inner nerd in many autists, as it gives us a chance to compare the specs of the technology until we find the perfect tool for the job. Also, with so many choices now available this once expensive pastime is now surprisingly accessible.
3.Skateboarding
Autism and skateboarding aren’t exactly two things I picture going hand-in-hand. However, if you ask James (an autistic skateboarder who contacted me weeks after the original article) he will tell you that in reality, the two are something of a match made in heaven.
I will be the first person to tell you that getting into skateboarding isn’t easy (and I have multiple stories of falling on my behind to back it up) but if you do master it, it can be both exhilarating and also a great work out.
According to Chrys Worley: founder of A.Skate, an organisation that teach autistic children to use skateboarding as therapy (it’s even cooler than it sounds), skateboarding can be a great way for autistic people to gain confidence as it makes us feel powerful when we jump on that deck and pull off tricks that the kids from Rocket Power would be jealous of.
What I found most surprising about this recommendation, is that autistic people actually make great skateboarders as we are often extremely determined, meaning that if we do fall off, we get right back on until we get it right (although, once again speaking from experience, this is not always the case).
4. Aquascaping
(Photo Credit: Takashi Amano)
Perhaps the most out-there suggestion I received after the previous article was that of Aquascaping, a suggestion which was sent to me by Josiah and one which admittedly I had never heard of before we spoke online.
For those who don’t know, Aquascaping is the art of organising, arranging and crafting the closest thing you’ll find to Atlantis in a fish tank and for all intents and purposes, it could be considered underwater gardening.
What makes Aquascaping so great for autistic people is the fact that within the confines of whatever you are generating there are endless possibilities for contained creativity; we can see the restrictions of the hobby and as such we are free to explore all our ideas without fear that things will get too unpredictable. Add this to the other benefit that Aquascaping is slow and thought out process thus offering a calming experience and you’ll quickly find that this peaceful interest undoubtedly makes an ideal passion.
(For those considering giving Aquascaping a shot, try researching it on Pinterest beforehand to find some jaw-dropping examples which are sure spark some inspiration whilst also offering helpful beginner tips)
5. Calligraphy
There’s something almost symbolic about including calligraphy as an option for autistic people to take up, as it has been demonstrated in numerous studies that many members of the spectrum will visualise spoken/written words when processing them.
To take this one step further, it has also been noted that a handful of lucky autists also process synaesthesia meaning they, not only process sounds as visuals in their mind but they will also see noises as physical concepts like colour or images when listening. For these reasons, calligraphy is perfect for autistic people as it gives us a chance to explore these phenomena and release our words in a way appropriate to how we stored them.
As with everything included on this list, you don’t have to be the world’s best calligrapher to enjoy calligraphy, so my advice to anyone looking to get started would be to find what you’re most comfortable drawing on and get started (unless you’re most comfortable drawing on your parents’ settee or a historic tapestry, in which case maybe just start with paper).
6. Animal Care
Brought to my attention by Stephanie on Twitter, Animal Care is a brilliant choice for any autistic people who are looking for a pastime, especially if they are looking for an activity which may one day lead to a full-time career.
It’s no secret that many autistic people struggle with daily interpersonal interactions. However, the same can’t be said about autistic people and animals. There are thousands of reports scattered around the internet, which discuss how autistic people are naturally drawn to the various four-legged fellows who inhabit our blue planet, and, as such, taking an interest in animals is not only recommended but also likely one that already exists and is waiting to be released.
Volunteering at animal shelters or taking up work on a local farm is a great way to get involved in this activity for autistic people, and, with the possibility that this activity could turn into employment one day, what’s stopping you from getting started right now?
7. Football
A staple in pretty much any hobbies, activity and sports list – but, what makes Football especially great for autistic people is not the act of playing it but the joys and possibilities which come from being a fan.
With so many details involved with following the great game e.g. learning the history of clubs, tracking the various performance of teams as well as the potential to memorise the countless strengths and weakness of individual players, it’s little surprise why Football is so adored by many fact-obsessed autists.
Of course, no one is saying that autistic people can’t fall in love with playing football (as I have no doubt many have). However, it’s important to note that, as playing football includes many high impact moments, it must be considered whether or not the experience is going to be more stressful than enjoyable for some people – this has always been my experience of the sport and it doesn’t help that the sport is renowned for having players who exhibit high levels of hostility.
8. Surfing
If you’re lucky enough to live close enough to a beach or you have some kind of access to an indoor surfing centre, then surfing is a great activity for a person with autism to take up.
There are many reasons why surfing is great for autistic people. My favourite theory regarding its benefits revolve around the idea that, due to the differences in which our minds interpret senses, the crashing waves, the ocean smell and the feel of the board gliding along the water all combine to make the perfect cocktail of relaxation and, as such, the activity can give our overworked brains a moment of rest from days in the busy city with loud car horns, uncertain smells and other forms of distraction.
Like skateboarding, surfing isn’t for everyone, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the benefits. With many alternatives, including paddleboarding, wakeboarding and bodyboarding, there are countless options available to go out there and ‘catch a wave’.
9. Blogging
Whether creating posts yourself or having someone give you hand in developing content, Blogging is the perfect opportunity for autistic people – and one which I can’t believe I forgot to include within my previous post.
What makes Blogging so great for autistic people is that it presents us the opportunity to take the discussions we sometimes struggle with in day-to-day life and gives us a chance to express ourselves on a platform perfect for our preferences: don’t like the conversation? Change the topic. Think things are moving too fast? Create an article on a single aspect. In fact, Blogging is so perfect for autistic people that it’s little wonder why an entire community has built up around us.
Obviously for an autistic person to blog it doesn’t always have to be about autism, so find that special interest which you can’t seem to shut up about and get started right away.
10. That One Hobby/Activity/Sport which I have no doubt STILL Forgotten to Include
Although my intention when creating this list was to finally amalgamate every activity that autists are great at into one place, the truth is that, after writing only 30 examples, I still find myself far from scratching the surface (yes there are 30 inclusions, as my last post featured a bonus option!).
This is because, despite all the specifics I have mentioned about what makes my choices ideal for autistic people, the reality is, that any choice is an ideal, so long as it makes the autist happy.
As such, I encourage you to fill this last space with one of the hobbies, activities or sports that you enjoy and then take a moment to consider how it could be used to help support autistic people in your community. You’ll be surprised to see just how inclusive most activities can be with a little consideration and if you want to share your idea in the comments below, you may even help someone find their true calling.
Carry on the Conversation:
That’s a wrap for this list, so let me know if you have any more suggestions in the comments below. Alternatively, if this article or the last one has tempted you to try a new pastime be sure to let me know which one has peaked your interest.
As always, I can also be found on Twitter @AutismRevised and via my email: AutisticandUnapologetic@gmail.com.
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Thank you for reading and I will see you next Saturday for more thoughts from across the spectrum.
