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For parents raising a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), your home environment plays a pivotal role in their development and ability to learn new skills. Creating an autism-friendly space that reduces stressors while promoting comfort, engagement and opportunities for learning can make all the difference.
For parents raising a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), your home environment plays a pivotal role in their development and ability to learn new skills. Creating an autism-friendly space that reduces stressors while promoting comfort, engagement and opportunities for learning can make all the difference.
Some key aspects of optimizing your home setting:
Some key aspects of optimizing your home setting:
Minimizing Sensory Overload
Minimizing Sensory Overload
Kids with ASD often struggle processing excessive sights, sounds, smells and other sensory input. Reducing clutter, noise levels, bright lights and strong scents can prevent meltdowns. Having a dedicated quiet space to retreat to can be calming.
Kids with ASD often struggle processing excessive sights, sounds, smells and other sensory input. Reducing clutter, noise levels, bright lights and strong scents can prevent meltdowns. Having a dedicated quiet space to retreat to can be calming.
Incorporating Visual Supports
Incorporating Visual Supports
Since children with autism relate better to visual cues than spoken language, using picture schedules, labeling household objects with words/images, and referring to social stories can ease communication and provide structure.
Since children with autism relate better to visual cues than spoken language, using picture schedules, labeling household objects with words/images, and referring to social stories can ease communication and provide structure.
Embracing Special Interests
Embracing Special Interests
Rather than discouraging special interests or repetitive behaviors, incorporate a child's fixations into their environment through toys, books, sensory objects and even decorations. This promotes engagement.
Rather than discouraging special interests or repetitive behaviors, incorporate a child's fixations into their environment through toys, books, sensory objects and even decorations. This promotes engagement.
Ensuring Safety
Ensuring Safety
Exits and cleaning supplies should have proper locks, windows secured, and potential hazards minimized. Using safety gates, cabinet locks and monitoring systems creates autism-friendly boundaries.
Exits and cleaning supplies should have proper locks, windows secured, and potential hazards minimized. Using safety gates, cabinet locks and monitoring systems creates autism-friendly boundaries.
Providing Sensory Input
Providing Sensory Input
Some kids crave extra sensory stimulation. Having cozy spaces with calming music, texture-rich toys, swinging chairs, or tools like fidget spinners gives an outlet. An indoor play area can encourage physical movement.
Some kids crave extra sensory stimulation. Having cozy spaces with calming music, texture-rich toys, swinging chairs, or tools like fidget spinners gives an outlet. An indoor play area can encourage physical movement.
Involving your child in the process of optimizing your home demonstrates your respect for their needs and provides further learning opportunities. An autism-friendly home sets the stage for progress.
Involving your child in the process of optimizing your home demonstrates your respect for their needs and provides further learning opportunities. An autism-friendly home sets the stage for progress.
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