#autism tips

[thatadhdmood]

@kaelynn_vp Tiktok Caption: The key to good communication with autistic people is to be direct. You'll always get a better response from us when we actually know what you want.

[tunaricebowl]

i don’t know which autistic/adhd/any kind of neurodivergent person needs to hear this but: make a “just in case” bag

this is a pic of mine. it contains:

loop earplugs on the zipper

prescription glasses with a clip on sunglasses attachment

my public transport discount card

a pen

a glasses cloth + wet glasses wipes (which can also be used to clean my hands if needed!

wireless earbuds in case my headphones give out

tips for my apple pencil + silicon covers if i need a different texture/the sound is too loud

a sanitary pad (not for me, as i had a hysterectomy, but i like carrying one around for my menstruating friends)

a pouch with hair ties for when my hair bothers me

autism lanyard (not pictured, as i put it in after i took it)

will i use these every day? not necessarily. but it’s good to have these all in one place in a little pouch so it’s easy to throw into my bag as i use different ones for different occasions. that way i don’t have to think about all these things individually.

it might seem like common sense for some people, but i didn’t think of this until recently. so i wanted to share this in case it could be handy for other people. some more ideas for what to put in your bag under the break. you can make this as big or as small as you like so some ideas may seem a bit big

powerbank + cables (preferably a powerbank that has a LOT of charge)

snacks (do keep an eye on the expiration date)

painkillers/emergency meds (same thing about the expiration date)

sewing kit

deodorant/perfume

mini fan

hand warmers

scissors/nail clippers (for when tags/threads/your nails are bothering you)

tweezers

lucky charm (i have my lucky cat keychain. it just calms me to have)

plushie/stress ball/fidget toy

mints/a mini toothbrush and toothpaste

extra pair of underwear (for if you suddenly need to stay somewhere overnight or if an accident happens)

comb

band-aids + disinfectant

hand cream/soothing cream

soap/soap leaves

similarly, some mini shampoo or mini body wash (again for if you suddenly need to stay the night. there’s probably already some wherever you’re staying but again. this is a just in case bag)

q-tips

chapstick

makeup remover wipes

razors

hand sanitizer/general sanitizer

wet wipes/tissues

foldable bag

ruler/tape measure

this is a lot but keep in mind, these are just ideas. you don’t have to use everything, just pick out which things you think would be handy for you and make your bag accordingly. do feel free to add onto the list if you have any other ideas.

[dailydivergent]

This is your much-needed reminder to take transitions seriously. As a neurodivergent person, you need much more time to switch between tasks and activities. It's not just important that you take your time, it's imperative for you to be able to keep going. Just like an athlete gets benched when they get injured, neurodivergent people get extra time to switch tasks, start something new, go out, or wrap up whatever you're doing. Take transitions seriously, or they'll seriously affect your health.

[ambrosiusmerlinwyllt]

for anyone who wasn't taught how to handle a compliment as a child, here's how you do:

Thank you, with a protracted vowel sound around the 'an', and the same, heightened protracted vowel sound on the 'o' in you, and a quick cut off around the 'u' sound so it doesn't sound sarcastic

Then, often, you pay them a compliment in return, often to the same degree/significance as yours to them

Such as,

'Hey, I like your jumper'

'Thank you! I like yours, too'

Add a 'too' if it is about the same concept, item, inversed onto their person

Or,

'I like that little flop in your hair'

'Thank you. like how you styled yours. The curls are pretty'

Or,

'Hey, I love your artstyle'

Here, we come to a conundrum, as, unless we are in an art class, we may not know (or visibly see, often important) their art, so this is what we say

'Thank you-,'

And then, something about it to clarify, often WHY they might like certain thing

Say,

'I've been working on it. Glad you like it'

Or,

'I've been practicing colour matching'

Or,

'Interesting that you like (*this style here*). It's one that really fascinates me'

Guaranteed to help smooth conversations, improve your image in other people's perspective, and potentially, gain freinds

From years of research

Bonus tip:

If you want to make eye contact and you are struggling, look into the corner of one of their eyes, or pick an eyebrow to look at. Mimics eye contact very well without actually making it. Do not forget to look away briefly, to say, a cheek or the tip of their ear, on average, every thirty seconds, for a duration of less than half a second, before looking back, if you really want to sell it

Signed, a friendly autistic

[neurodivergent-brain]

time to compile some helpful neurodivergent tips for those starting university or something similar

I am about to start uni and I realised that I feel kinda scared as all of the habits I built to get me through high school may not be as useful for uni. I'm hoping that if people have any tips (for neurodivergence or just in general) plsss put them in the comments so we can compile a list so then others also can access these tips or reblog this with your tips!

[stal3bread]

Tips on dental hygiene with autism (from my dentist)!!

I went to the dentist a few weeks ago and I told her I'm autistic and that causes me sensory issues that make brushing my teeth regularly harder, and she was great about it and gave me some tips!

Use disclosing tablets - you can get these on Amazon and at pharmacies. They colour your plaque so you can see where you need to brush.

Brush your teeth at night and use mouthwash in the morning - it’s better to brush your teeth at night because it’s after you’ve eaten food so your teeth are easier to get properly clean then. Obviously, if you can, brush your teeth both times, but if you can only handle brushing your teeth once a day, do it at night.

Use an electric toothbrush, if you can afford it. If you can’t brush your teeth that frequently, it’s better to use an electric toothbrush because it’ll clean your teeth better than a regular toothbrush. It’s better to get ab electric toothbrush either way, but especially if you don’t brush your teeth that often.

Get a toothbrush with super soft bristles, this will make brushing your teeth less harsh on your mouth.

If you struggle with mint toothpaste, it's ok to get a different flavour of toothpaste or just brush dry

These have helped me with my dental hygiene since, and I hope they'll help some of you guys

Note: don't be afraid to try out stuff that's different to what I recommended! Everyone's sensory needs are different and what works for me may not work for everyone else, e.g. some people can't use electric toothbrushes for sensory reasons, some people might need hard bristles, some people can't handle mouthwash, etc

[sakura-is-in-bloom]

I recently saw some posts by an AuDHD creator on Instagram, about the small accommodations that help them live their everyday life, and it made me wonder what accommodations I’ve made for myself without realizing it? So I decided to make a list of the accommodations I’ve made for myself, in hopes it might help someone else:

Whiteboards: I have a whiteboard calendar, a days of the week whiteboard, and a regular mini whiteboard. All of them are mounted on the wall next to my door, so it’s the first thing I see when exiting my room, where I write my schedule, events, reminders, etc. If I don’t write it, I forget it!

Only open shelves: The furniture in my room is 99% open shelves and bookcases, because I have issues with object permanence. The only drawers I have are in my closet, for my pjs. Everything else is shelves.

Shelf instead of a vanity: Again, I have issues with object permanence. So my vanity is actually a repurposed kitchen spice rack that I upcycled! It has my hygiene products (like my skincare and deodorant), my hair brush, and I use the pan rod as a towel holder.

Sleeping on the floor: I am blessed to have low support needs, but working does leave me very disregulated often. I’ve found that being on the floor helps regulate me most; so a few years ago I ditched my mattress for a Japanese futon.

Bag organizer: There are little bag organizers one can buy to stick in their bag. I use it as my catch-all kit. I have my ear defenders (for Big Noises), a power bank, my Kindle, a mini fan, my fidget toys, ear plugs (for Lesser Noises), a compact umbrella (for both rain and it’s too bright), and my CD player + earbuds in it. I usually have sunglasses too but I lost them 😅. Since it’s a bag organizer, I can easily move it between bags.

Using kid’s products instead of adult products: Products made “for adults” tend to be heavily perfumed and irritating to my sensory issues, so I sometimes just opt for the “kid” version, which tend to be gentler and fragrance free or easier on my sensory issues.

Bandanas!!!: Traditional headbands and hair ties are just too much for my sensitive head. But with a bandana, I can control how tight or loose it is, and can wear it as a headband, bow, updo, or the regular way! I can even get prints in my special interest (pokemon)!

Gloves: Sometimes I have bad sensory moments and can’t stand touching certain textures, so I have a pair of rubber gloves for washing dishes with. Sometimes, if I’m having a really bad sensory day, I use the rubber gloves to help me wash my hair in the sink too.

There are probably tons of other things I do too that I just can’t think of right now, but this is what came to the forefront of my mind! If you made to the end of this list and you have your own accommodations to help you live your life, what are they?

[travelbasscase]

neurodivergent life hack:

eat nuts.

they're easy to carry around so you can just stash them in your going-out bag and not remove them (no need to worry about remembering to bring snacks. if you're like me it's not going to happen so get ahead of the issue). they're nutritious and high-protein (brain not letting you prepare food? just grab a handful of nuts! fewer barriers to eating). if you buy nuts in the shell you've got a fun little activity. they have a pleasing texture. there are multiple kinds of nuts to choose from. you can even get mixes with all your favorite types. they pair well with other foods (i eat corn grits for breakfast a LOT. absolutely love it never gets old. unfortunately corn grits are nutritionally nothing, not even calories and aren't really enough to get me through the first half of the day. so i sometimes put nuts in it. makes the texture Exciting and gives me more protein and calories so i won't be hungry all morning). they aren't really messy besides maybe dust that easily wipes off so no scuzz on your hands/sensory ewwww!

my diet is like. 50% peanut at this point. that's my nut of choice. it's wonderful.

note: people with nut allergies are out of luck, i have no tips for you.