Autism & routine, Mulder & Scully, Donald Trump & that time he got banned from signing into Twitter. There are some things in life that fit together so perfectly that it can be a scary thought when the two part. However, like the ill-fated season 9 of The X-files, where Duchovny’s character got the boot, these things do happen and, in the case of autism & routine, it is a departure that can go very wrong.
In today’s article, I want to discuss why routine is so important for autistic people, as well as what can be done to prepare an autistic person for when change ransacks the routine in our lives.
Why is Routine Important for Autistic people?
You don’t have to be autistic to realize that the world can be a scary place; full of terrifying changes, hidden surprises and of course clowns (but enough about Donald Trump). However, for autistic people, the world isn’t just scary, it’s also irritating, infuriating and incomprehensible.
For example, by the age of 25, I am well aware that there are more foods to have in the morning than bacon (on a weekend) and Icelandic yoghurt (on the weekdays). I also know that I don’t have to eat breakfast at precisely 7:30am every day. However, I am also aware that when I do try different foods or eat at different times then the world just doesn’t make sense:
- I may spend more than I have expected and have less money saved than I want.
- I may not get as full as I expected and have to shift my dinner around setting an unprecedented time, for Netflix in the evening.
- I even have a ridiculous thought in my head that makes me think that Tesco will stop selling the brand of yoghurt I like if I stop purchasing it – even for one week!
To put it simply, change begets change and, subsequently, I’m drowning in the anxiety of not only the multiple sprouting paths which now lie ahead of me, but I’m exhausted from thinking about it and drained from arguing with my mind, that tells me I’m an idiot for even trying this change in the first place.
But, while some people have made the observation that this makes an autistic routine similar to O.C.D., this is not the case; O.C.D. is an action which is said to prevent the anxiety from ever happening, while an autistic routine is used to avoid and cope with already existing anxiety – essentially one comes from doubt, the other from experience. However, what happens when these anxieties we tried to avoid come for us anyway?
Transition Strategies:
Regular change
For autistic people, a break in a routine can become somewhat of a routine itself. This could be the way the world shuts down on the 25th December or how the school gates become Fort Knox at the end of the academic year. Under these circumstances, it’s important to have made plans well in advance and to tailor the tactic to the autistic person’s experience.
Social stories/visual references with descriptive labels are great to use here, especially if you have actual pictures taken from the previous experience – as these remind us of what may occur and may help put things in perspective. If possible, also explain key points of the day with specific emphasis on how it will begin and end. While it probably goes without saying: be sure to highlight the aspects that we enjoyed previously – even if that’s just how quickly the event came to an end.
Predictable Change
Like cancelling your bank card and ordering a new one, only to find the original one moments later, sometimes change is inevitable. This can be a trip to a holiday destination or maybe a time to get some new clothes. However, while social stories and doing test runs beforehand are a great solution here, it’s an even better idea to involve the autistic person by giving us options for the day.
Although it may seem counterproductive, to stop uncertainty overload by presenting more choices, giving us influence over the day – whether it be where we are going afterwards or what we can eat whilst we are there, can make us feel involved and not like we are just being carried away by the day.
Unexpected Change
Sadly, all the planning in the world can’t protect an autistic person from the possibility of a substitute teacher or a train delay. However, thankfully, there are many strategies which can be put in place to make this more manageable
Firstly, ensuring that the autistic person (whether that be yourself or someone you know) has a strong support network around us (family, friends, colleagues, teachers) is always recommended as, if one thing goes wrong, this team can help soften the blow by regulating everything else. Secondly, having an autist armed with access to a special interest e.g a book, a film or music will also allow for self-regulation in cases where we are momentarily alone.
In my experience this was how, in times of panic, I would pick up a dinosaur book and discuss its contents with anyone nearby – something that on the surface may have looked like a distraction, but was really a subconscious technique used to remind myself that there were some things in my life that this change couldn’t impact: the facts in my book.
Permanent Change
Finally, whilst most breaks in routine can be resolved over time, for some changes, like moving house and the passing of a loved one, there is no going back. These present a particular challenge as, in an autist’s mind, we are literally entering the unknown from which there is no coming back and this usually spells disaster.
While social stories, involving the autist in planning and building a strong support network are still useful tricks here, the important thing to consider is how you can ensure that an autistic person’s routine is disrupted as little as possible. For example, when I was recently forced to move flat, I was fixated on my new journey to work, not because of the new route in particular, but because I was unsure how it would impact on my time to read in the morning. Realising this, I have since implemented time in the evening to make up for the lost reading and everything else has fallen into place around it. This shows how, when trying to maintain a routine, sometimes you need to focus on the components, even though the order may need to change.
Furthermore, as ‘certainty’ is the name of the game here, it’s important when speaking to the autist not to add to the confusion with broken promises and white lies, as this will only make things worse in the long run. So, even if the uncertainty seems unbearable, grit your teeth and stick to the facts that you know, rather than uncertainties that have more holes in their logic than the average Donald Trump pledge (boom! I got the hat-trick!).
Carry on the Conversation:
What are your tips for handling change and breaking routine? Let me know in the comments below. And, if you would like to hear how to help an autistic person with change at school, follow this link to my article on: How to Prepare Autistic People for School.
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.
