Low Arousal and Autism (part three)

A 'Low Arousal' approach to Autism? What does it mean? An article in four parts.

This is the third bit of a four part article exploring the concept of a "low arousal approach" to autism. I'm going to focus this time on Support - it's a key component to our four-cornered model for low arousal.

If you saw parts one and two then you'll know that the four components of the model are:-

Communication

Environment

Support

Activity

So just what on earth do people mean by low arousal support? Well wether you are a parent or practitioner you are important to people with autism. Let’s get the idea that people with autism aren’t interested in or bothered about people out of the way. This is almost never the case. Folk with autism need people. People are part of the solution.They are there to help. Trouble is, the help and support - because they are inside a person they’re in a place where they are hard to access for people with autism. Inside people. You see we are part of the problem and part of the solution - at the same time! We are offering solutions and causing problems simultaneously.

We are all individuals and folk with autism will spot this straight away. They are good at recognising differences. It’s one of the skills autism brings along with it. Now whether you are the parent or practitioner at some point you’ll get told to be more consistent. But what does that mean? Well it doesn’t mean everyone being the same. That’s not realistic or even desirable. Doing the same? Well yes, but we’ll all have slightly different ways with teaching, parenting, showing, instructing etc. Sounding the same? Well we don’t, and even if we use the same words (or signs) it won’t be quite the same as the way others look and sound. So what do people really mean when they tell you to be more consistent around those on the spectrum? Well I’d say it’s ensuring that everyone involved in the persons life and how they live it, has a mega-consistent understanding of the person, their autism and how the world works for them.

We need to really concentrate on letting the person know that we know them and that we will respect and value everything about them. Be meaningful to the person. Show that you are someone that they can connect to at a communication level, a sensory level, a special interest level, a behaviour level...

So what’s going to help us do that?

• Try Person centered Planning tools like Communication Charts, One Page Descriptions, Important To / Important For lists. Take a look at the Families Leading Planning website
• The Learning Community is also a good Person Centered Planning website
• Take a look at this video of Intensive Interaction - it’s a good example of what I mean by being meaningful
• Get into partnership with the person. Try a mediated approach where you are both like detectives (Watson and Holmes?) working on things together and finding clues that lead to solutions. It’s much better than telling people what not to do all the time.
• Avoid over-use of language especially complex, idiomatic language. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Keep it short and try to show rather than tell.
• There’s a well used phrase - “I can read him/her like a book”. Well the trick with successful support is to make yourself really readable. Transparent. Obvious. Get the idea?
• Crowds can be a problem so give lots of personal space. Try to avoid touching the person and make sure that other young people or service users know to give them body room.
• Ask yourself what do you like about the person? What do you admire about them? When do you have fun together? If you focus on the answers to these rather than the difficulties and problems it will make your support for the young person or adult more fruitful.

And finally... here’s a quote from the film, The Horse Whisperer. I think it’s relevant here:-

Annie: I’ve heard you help people with horse problems.

Tom Booker: Truth is, I help horses with people problems.

Chris Barson

Director

Positive About Autism™

www.positiveaboutautism.co.uk

Follow Chris on Twitter @autismevents