Play I did it my way. Adam Harris Mary Immaculate College, Limerick

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Sheryl Doyle
5 years ago
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1 Play I did it my way Adam Harris Mary Immaculate College, Limerick 15 th September 2018

2 Autistic people do play too

3 Difference not disorder

4 Awareness Vs Understanding A little knowledge is a dangerous thing..

5 Common Misconceptions Autistic people have no sense of humour Autistic people don t have any empathy Autistic people are not creative Autistic people can t think outside the box Autistic people can t

6 But the reality is

7 If you have met one autistic person, you have met one autistic person

8 8 Who here has Autism?

9 To teach me, first you have to reach me

10 What is autism? Developmental condition Different way of communicating Difference way of understanding social situations Different way of processing the environment Different way of thinking

11 I am different, not less

12 What are those differences actually like?

13 1 3 Why we use this story It highlights what it is like to live in a world not built for you Shows that it is not a right way of thinking or a wrong way of thinking - it is simply how a person thinks Captures the key day to day challenges which people with Autism experience: communication, sensory, anxiety, dependence on prompts etc Reminds us that very small changes, could make a very big difference

14 1 4 Key Point: The culture shock experienced in this story is what people with Autism experience on a day to day basis In the same way people in Tokyo think nothing of taking the subway, you think nothing of activities in your day to day life. For us, the rules and expectations needs to be explicit

15 How did I play?

16 Baby Adam

Getting Diagnosed.. I never do anything until I m ready and whatever I do, I do very fast Difficult Baby - never slept LOTS of Language (everyone was delighted.

17 Getting Diagnosed.. I never do anything until I m ready and whatever I do, I do very fast Difficult Baby - never slept LOTS of Language (everyone was delighted.) Very poor coordination - wasn t crawling when I should have been walking Unusual play Special interests (much to the toy manufacturers delight) He just runs up and down, up and down, up and down Didn t mix with peers Relied on routine and rules No crowds, noise, limited diet Meltdowns 17

18 A look at some special interests 18

19 Things to know about my play I lined things up as this helped me enter the world of the characters The greatest stress reliever for me was to fully enter the world of my special interests For me my special interests were a fundamental part of my life My special interests were extremely useful they weren t conventional but that has stood to me I made friends with people who shared my interests not people who shared my diagnosis or happened to be my age! My 10 th birthday party Other parents could be cruel The tactile aspect of play was very important to me WHERE I played was important to me Self-regulation is vital don t unteach it 19

20 How play helped me to socialise Collectible fads were hugely helpful they provided both rules and facts Going to play for me was much easier than going to hang out It helped me to understand rationalise situations in my own head, through the world which I regulated It allowed for peaceful disruption to teach me social skills It could be built on to accidental socialising opportunities You can t force a person to socialise but you can create an environment in which a person can socialise Play is a good seed to plant The loving push 20

21 What helped me in play? Boundaries and rules (sometimes this was stating the unwritten) ADULTS My interests A calm sensory environment A get out of jail card Trust not being made to socialise Certainty, consistency and predictability 21

22 Playing with other children Getting older this became harder The yard environment in school was often not conducive Not having control could be challenging the bigger the numbers, the harder it was to play Rules could not change rules were good 22

23 2 3 Being a Teen - The Travelator Effect

24 Transition Year Structured play!

25 The Importance of being autism-friendly

26 Life in the Community 26

27 What are the barriers to participation? Communication Sensory Processing Predictability & Control Public Judgement & Attitude 27

28 2 8 What autism-friendly measures are there? It depends on your business and organisation! Training Customer education Quiet spaces / quiet times Social Stories Sensory audit Website / Detailed information /Videos Alternative means of communication Opportunity to disclose / explain (All about me booklet) Communication stickers Ear plugs Sensory Boxes / Stimming Toys

29 Autism is an accessibility issue

30 Q&A

Aspect Positive Behaviour Support

Aspect Positive Behaviour Support Individual Autism Profile Information Sheet Why develop an individual autism profile? People on the autism spectrum may have a range of support needs based on their preferences,