Social and community support

Many children and adults with autismrequire assistance in learning how to behave in many types of social interactions. They frequently want to interact with others but may not know how to engage friends or may be intimidated by the prospect of new experiences.

Building social skills through practise can improve community engagement and support outcomes such as happiness and friendships. We have gathered social skills advice and information from experts, teachers, and families, as well as valuable tools, to help you become more involved in your community.

When you start to notice autism symptoms, it is best to get an autism diagnosis. Every autistic child is affected differently. Autism is characterised by a wide range of symptoms. Go and get an autism assessment. Autism is difficult to diagnose because there is no medical test for it, such as a blood test. A diagnosis is made by a doctor based on the child’s developmental history and behaviour. It can be detected in months. It is important to listen to your child while having an autism assessment.

There are numerous social skills to learn, and they will be taught by a variety of individuals in a variety of contexts – at home, school, and in the community. A “social skills group” may be led by a special education teacher, speech pathologist, or other clinician who combines direct, explicit instruction with opportunity to practise and generalise these abilities in more natural settings. This entails real-world practise with peers! Other experts who assist with social skills include:

• Occupational Therapists
• therapists of behaviour
• psychologists in schools
• Many more direct care staff members include general education instructors  and health

People with autism benefit from visual information, such as a chart, a booklet, or an electronic gadget. Using customised teaching stories gives persons with autism a visual assistance for knowing what to expect in different scenarios and learning what is required of them in these settings. These stories, told in visuals and basic English, can make everyday social situations more predictable for persons with autism, while also providing them with methods for navigating these situations more effectively.

A social worker who specialises in autism is frequently hired by a government agency, disability organisation, or self-help group to aid and support parents, children, and adults with autism. Social workers are trained in complicated issue resolution, counselling, well-being monitoring, and family support. If you suspect you or someone you care about has autism, or if you are in the early phases of assessment, the diagnostic procedure can be difficult; as a result, it is critical to get help as soon as possible.

So one of the questions that parents who have recently noticed that their child has autism will ask is, “Where can I find an occupational therapist autism near me?” There are numerous possibilities available, therefore the solution is not far away. You can find one on the internet. When you are in the early stages of autism, consult with an occupational therapist. Meet with a nearby occupational therapist for assistance, as well as seek expert assistance from an occupational therapist.

Article submitted in conjunction with a speech and language pathologist.