For people on the autism spectrum, change can be uncomfortable and scary, even when it is a positive change. Things such as having a baby, getting a new pet, a sibling going away to college, moving, or a parent getting a new job can be exciting and happy events for a family.
For a person with ASD these exciting changes can be scary as routines are changed. It is important for parents and caregivers to help prepare a person with ASD for these upcoming life changes. Social stories, pictures, timelines, and accurate discussions can help lead to less anxiety. When talking about the upcoming positive event, be sure and validate any anxiety and fears that the person with ASD may have.
Allow them to express any feelings of anxiety, fear, or depression that may be tied to the event and help them to work through it. Realize that people with ASD may have different reactions to events and may need longer to process events than other people in the family.
Book of the Week: A full life with autism : from learning to forming relationships to achieving independence / Chantal Sicile-Kira and Jeremy Sicile-Kira. Palgrave Macmillan, 2012. This books covers the changes that happen in life, and the process of coping with them.
This book is in the SESA Library. You may search the library catalog via the SESA website (http://www.sesa.org), or contact Anne directly by email at afreitag@sesa.org or by phone at 907-334-1301.
