Lesser-Known
I recently came across an article which shared 9 lesser known characteristics of people with autism by Chantelle Dixon.
1. Inappropriate laughing or giggling
2. Lack of fear toward danger
3. Contradictory sensory issues
4. Intense compassion and empathy
5. Better connection to animals than people
6. Lack of personal space
7. Lack of impulse control
8. Gastrointestinal problems
9. Odd or unnatural posture
If you’d like to read the whole article, I’ve linked it here:
Knowledge of these lesser known characteristics of people with ASD can help you help your child. For example, you may think your child is just being difficult if he wants squeezes and tickles and then becomes upset once you have obliged. Seen in the context of ‘contradictory sensory issues’ this might make more sense. Maybe he needs some deep pressure, but too much of it may be overwhelming. It may take some experimentation to find the right amount. You might try timers of different lengths, and/or you may want to give him a way to end it when it is getting to be too much. Maybe something as simple as a card with a stop sign could be his cue. He could touch it or hand it to you when he wants to be ‘all done.’
Learning from the experiences of other people with your child’s diagnosis can help you figure out what your child might need, especially if he or she doesn’t have the words to explain. I hope this edition of Thursday Thoughts was helpful. As always, if you have questions or want more information on one of the characteristics, comment below.
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About the Author
Erica Mauro is a mom to two teenage boys, Will who is neurotypical and Michael with Autism and cognitive delays. She holds a BA in Psychology from Colgate University and a Masters of Psychology in Education from Columbia Teacher’s College. Before staying home with her children, she worked as an elementary school teacher. For five years, she served on the Board of Directors of the Molly Ann Tango Memorial Foundation, a charity dedicated to enriching the lives of children with special needs. In partnership with her husband Dave, she aspires to parent by using daily life as an opportunity for therapeutic intervention, seizing on real experiences as opportunities to build skills and strategies for Michael in a joyful, loving home environment. On the tougher early days, she just tried to get everyone safely to bedtime and start fresh in the morning. *wink* 
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