-Van has a massive thing against loud noises. If unaware that they are going to happen they will have a melt down. (Hence in season one they covered there ears at the shot gun competition)
-Shit at reading facial queues.
-Great at sarcasm though.
- Van has hand stims when anxious, they tap fingers and chews nails. When out in public Van self regulates by tapping their thumb to each finger.
-Van has facial expressions that are stims like the scronch face.
- Probably linked to being bad at reading facial queues, Van’s face can give away everything, Tai knows this and uses it to her advantage.
- Echolalia is a big stim, mostly its film quotes but in the wilderness its any sound or phrase they picks up from the others.
-School is completely unaware of Vans ASD cause ya know it’s the 1990s and “girls don’t do autism”
-Clothes and materials are a thing that can overwhelm Van, they make sure to cut all labels out of clothes and they have to be the right texture.
- Maybe it’s a gender thing maybe it’s autism but “normal” bras are just a no go (big big melt down when Vicky made Van wear one)
-Can go non verbal.

- Tai can spot when van is going into meltdown territory and most times can get Van to do breath techniques or Tai plays with Vans hair to sooth them.
-Loves routine, even in the wilderness Van has their own chores and routine which they thrive on.
- Their childhood was the opposite of ordered and routine this resulted in some self destructive behaviours.
-Nat help in Van their younger years by giving Van an outlet and sort of routine, every Saturday was film night.
-If Van is struggling to explain feelings or ideas they will use example from movies or Tv. Tai also does this when explaining things Van may not get.
-The X files is the show that got Van into VCRs and other types of tape recording as they were never going to miss an episode.
ADULT VAN:
- Van’s store is a great excuse for Van to collect their special interest (movies) and sit all day and sort them.
- Van enjoys the store as it gives themselves a good amount of controlled social interaction, with expected conversations: that was until Tai showed up, that was very overwhelming.
-Van has safe foods all of them vegetarian as sometimes textures of food and take them back to the wilderness days.
Some of these may or may not be me projecting onto Van, shhh your face.
