Beyond Words: Unlocking Your Child's Social Superpowers🦸

Discover Simple Strategies to Help Your Autistic Child Thrive in Every Social Situation

Note: This post was written by our Marketing Manager with the supervision of a Registered Behaviour Analyst. In this post we use different terms to refer to people with autism, including: autistic, individuals with autism, on the spectrum or neurodiverse. This is intentional to recognize the diverse ways our clients identify as either people first, autistic first or as a community. We also sometimes refer to non-autistic people as: non-autistic, neurotypical or allistic as a way to differentiate amongst our diverse community. 

One of the challenges for individuals with autism is understanding the unspoken rules in social situations. Most people never consciously think about the logic being applied to their actions, and how they change in different environments and around different people; it all happens in the background. 

Ideally, direct simple communication would be the norm but we know that human beings are nuanced, including those with autism. We don’t just always say what we mean, if we say anything at all. We have so many ways of communicating, and they change in all kinds of situations.

For individuals with autism it can require a more thoughtful approach to many of the daily interactions that others take for granted.  This is especially tough for kids because they are just gaining experience and understanding of the world around them and they may not yet understand their own differences. At LRCSS helping navigate social communication is an important part of what we do.

Understanding the environment and social implications of different situations can help individuals with autism manage their day-to-day interactions more effectively. Our individualized approach uses strategies that are affirming and tailored to meet the needs of each individual so they feel empowered and ready to get social.

Keep in mind though, this can be a lot of effort for autistic individuals, even with the support of caregivers and professionals like us. Think of it like this: if social interactions are like riding an electric scooter with GPS for neurotypical people, for autistic individuals it can be like riding a manual scooter with an analogue map. It takes a lot more effort to get where they are going.

If we understand that, we can exercise more patience, kindness and empathy when communication takes time or breaks down. We can make room for people to communicate in a way that works for them and vice versa. 

🌟 Understanding communication differences empowers us all

Here are some of the communication challenges that individuals on the spectrum may face:

1. Language Processing is different for many individuals with autism. They may have difficulty processing verbal information quickly or effectively. Sometimes we need to slow down to give them time to process information or to respond to a question.

2. Nonverbal Cues like reading facial expressions, body language, and social cues can be particularly challenging. Depending on the individual you may need to be more direct and not rely on your posture or facial expressions to convey your message.

3. Social Interactions like understanding the back-and-forth nature of conversation often requires explicit teaching. Knowing when to interject and not to interrupt may not come naturally.

4. Sensory Factors can interfere with attention and processing during communication attempts. The environment can have a big impact on the nervous system. For example, if you have something important to discuss,  it may make sense to change the setting to a quieter and less busy location.

💪 Strengthening social communication with evidence based strategies

At LRCSS we help our clients and their families navigate social communication in a number of different ways depending on their strengths and needs. The techniques we use are evidence-based and designed to bring awareness to the aspects of social situations that are unfamiliar or less obvious. Four of the most common tools we use to support our clients and families include:

1. Social Narratives where we create simple stories that explain social situations and appropriate responses. Oftentimes, social interactions can be challenging because of all the mental energy used up by a new experience or environment or by not knowing the appropriate way to act in a given situation. A social narrative clears that up in advance by providing a simple structured explanation of what to expect and how to adapt to that situation. 

2. Perspective Taking uses activities that help individuals understand others' thoughts and feelings. It’s a way to put themselves in someone else’s shoes so they can gain a perspective that will shape their behaviour in a specific situation.

3. Role Playing is all about practicing conversations and social scenarios in a safe, structured environment. It allows for mistakes without all the awkwardness and judgement in the moment. Many autistic individuals report rehearsing social situations as a way of preparing for stressful encounters and environments. Supporting that through role playing can be very helpful.

4. Peer Interactions that are facilitated around structured activities with peers who can model social communication become a great way to learn by osmosis. We do this in many of our social skills group programs.

Explore these strategies and more in our Beyond Words On-Demand Workshop.

Each of these strategies has its own strengths. The key is to find what works best for the individual. Afterall, communication is as nuanced as every one of us is. When it comes to navigating a world not designed for everyone, we need more than one way to figure it all out. At LRCSS everything we do is individualized for the people we serve.

🗨 Have you tried one of these strategies? Have you got something else we should try? Let us know what’s worked for you in the comments at the end of this post.

🤝 Where inclusivity and collaboration comes into play

It's important to note, that although we can use strategies to support easier social interactions, there may be continued challenges. That is where inclusivity and collaboration comes into play. At LRCSS it’s our job to help individuals with autism thrive in a world not designed for them, but in order to create an inclusive society where everyone can thrive we need to meet people halfway.

It  wouldn’t be fair to expect someone in a wheelchair to climb the stairs to get to a meeting so let’s not make it the responsibility of autistic individuals to accommodate the world around them constantly. Most individuals with autism attend social skills programs like the ones we offer to meet the needs of the world around them. We can take on some responsibility by accommodating using some of the strategies we’ve discussed including:

1. Don’t rush the conversation. Give the person you’re speaking with time to process information if it’s needed and don’t try to fill all the silence. Give them time to respond to what you’ve just said. 

2. Pick your spots when choosing where and when to talk about certain things. It may not be a big deal to have certain conversations in a busy school yard or lunchroom but it could prevent the person you’re speaking with from really hearing you.

3. Don’t take it personal, if the response is direct or the body language of the person you’re speaking to doesn’t match the conversation; it may not be intentional. 

4. Don’t assume the person you’re speaking with doesn’t get it. Respect is key. Presume competence to avoid embarrassing yourself or someone else.

5. Just ask for clarification on how someone wants to receive information if you aren’t sure. Curiosity is always better than assumptions. When we understand one another we can collaborate more effectively.

As caregivers, supporting your child and accommodating their needs isn’t a weakness; it’s a strength. Your child needs a place where they can be themselves without judgement. It doesn’t prevent them from gaining skills and succeeding in the wider world, it enables it. We can’t be on 24/7. It’s not sustainable. When we feel accepted, we can accept ourselves; we can advocate for ourselves and we have the energy to adapt to the world around us at the same time. 

Often we are accommodating the autistic individuals in our life even if we don’t realize it. How are you accommodating the individuals with autism in your life? Let us know in the comments and share this with someone so they can better understand and accommodate the autism community.

Looking for help developing a child’s communication skills? Check out our Beyond Words Workshop. It’s FREE for OAP Families and provides all kinds of strategies to help your child thrive in a world not designed for them.