Autism
It’s a Neurotype
Autism is a neurotype, meaning a certain way the brain works. Autistic brains work differently to allistic (non-autistic) brains, in a similar way to how iOS devices work differently to android devices. Autistic individuals have strengths in how their brains work such as attention to certain details and the ability to hyperfocus, but also experience sensory processing differences and executive functioning difficulties.
Supporting Regulation
Many Autistic individuals have difficulty maintaining a regulated state, often experiencing heightened emotions as well as periods of overload, meltdown, shutdown and burnout. Therefore our approach is to support regulation through considering what is regulating at any one time and assisting the individual to do those things regularly, in a preventative and self-care manner. We explore and problem-solve barriers to putting these strategies in place, and also look at triggers for dysregulation and how to lessen or manage those.
For individuals experiencing burnout, we help them to develop a recovery plan including reducing demands and engaging in regulating activities.
Finding ‘Your People’
We support Autistic individuals to find ‘their people’, that is other individuals who they can genuinely connect with, appreciate, and be appreciated. Often this is with neurokin (other ND individuals) as suggested by the Double Empathy Problem, and/ or through interest-based groups. Connecting with neurokin often reduces the need to mask and the toll that can take.
Autism-Friendly Environments
We also support Autistic individuals to work towards Autism-friendly environments to live, study/ work in etc (in accordance with understanding the Social Model of Disability; that is, it is the environment that makes the individual’s experience disabling). With children we support caregivers to provide more sensory-friendly environments with clear, literal communication. With adults this includes long-term goal setting and steps towards those goals, as well as supporting advocacy for accommodations to be made in those environments.
The Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) Profile
We note that PDA is often referred to within the community by alternate terms such as Pervasive Demand for Autonomy. When working with PDAers we are particularly mindful of working from a trauma-informed approach with reduced demands; rather we invite clients to participate in discussions and activities, and welcome direction from our clients. Often with PDAer children we work primarily with parents to create a supportive environment to reduce demands, and therefore threat perception. Focusing on building and maintaining overall regulation leads to a wider ‘window of tolerance’ and increased ability to manage day-to-day demands in a more regulated manner.
