Post 7: Routines and managing change

Welcome to week 7.

This week's blog will focus on the need for routine for people on the autism spectrum, as well as the challenges that any unexpected change to that routine can have.  This seems particularly important as we will be supporting students who are transitioning to University.  They will be faced with a new routine - new setting, new people, perhaps they are moving away from home and into student halls, many of their routines will change.  While some changes can be prepared for there will always be unexpected changes that may cause increased anxiety and can cause a meltdown.  For some this may present itself in challenging behaviour.

Think about the day-to-day changes to routine that we all face at University - cancelled lectures, room changes, different lecturers.  These sorts of changes are not something we can prepare for.  This quote by Jolliffe goes some way in explaining the need for routine as a way of controlling events in an otherwise unpredictable environment:

"Reality to an autistic person is a confusing, interacting mass of events, people, places, sounds and sights... Set routines, times, particular routes and rituals all help to get order into an unbearably chaotic life.  Trying to keep everything the same reduces some of the terrible fear"  

Jolliffe (1992) cited in Howlin (2004), p.137

For some the routine may consist of walking to college the same way, eating the same food, sitting in the same seat in the lecture theatre.  Some people become ritualistic in their routine, with timings needing to be precise.  Others are rigid in their preferences for the clothes that they wear (perhaps one type of fabric) or the colour of the food that they eat (Christopher in 'The curious incident of the dog in the night time' doesn't like anything that is yellow or brown).

Have a look at this National Autistic Society's video in the 'Too Much Information and us' series to hear a group of young people on the autism spectrum talk about their experiences on coping with unexpected change,

Another useful resource is the transcript of an interview with Paula Johnston, an adult with autism, on her experience of coping with change available here.  There's also a short video showing how a person on the autism spectrum might react to a change to their routine such as a delayed train.

As we begin to think about meeting up with our mentees for the first time it is important to ask where they want to meet, and if the place is a comfortable sensory environment for them you may want to continue meeting in this place.   Ensure that you meet at the time that you agreed, and avoid being late.

Further resources

Michael, a colleague on the autism module, and who has Asperger Syndrome has recommended the TV series 'Community'.  He says it is written by an Aspie  "and has one of the best representations of an autistic character I've found, it's also very funny".  You will meet Michael at the training day in September.

Another resource that is available as an ebook through the University library is called 'Lives with autism' by Steve Mee, a former lecturer at the University.  Each chapter shares a personal experience of someone whose life has been touched by autism - people on the autism spectrum, parents, siblings and professionals.  Definitely worth a read.  It's available here.

Contact

If you have any queries or concerns over the Summer you can contact me directly at lesley.english@cumbria.ac.uk 

For general queries relating to the peer mentoring scheme contact peermentoring@cumbria.ac.uk 

I look forward to meeting you all in September.