04/24/2026
April is Autism Acceptance Month! 💙 Below, find an insightful post from one of our therapists, Kai. It’s a great reminder of how we can show respect, inclusion, and acceptance - not just this month, but every day!
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“One autistic person’s thoughts on intense interests…
Recreation is about seeking choice over obligation. We all prefer activities in which we can feel relaxed, entertained, and connected. For many people, socialization is how that is achieved. Whether an infant being held, a child on a playground, or an adult at happy hour, socializing hits the sweet spot of recreational multitasking.
But what if every attempt at eye contact is a conscious effort? Or others are distracted by your hand-movement stims, but you’re distracted by holding them in? Or the pace of verbal exchanges is faster than verbal processing or AAC use allows? Or conversations require research because no one else talks about insects and I don’t know anything about famous people? Whether we blend in or not, managing the demands of conversation can take up more brain space than allowed for freedom and fun.
Intense interests can have a similar role as friendships in our lives, being as deeply valued and personal to us as a loved one. They are always with us, built into how we see everything around us. They are the language of our minds, and they are the place to start to make communication with us.
Learn the languages of the autistic people you know. Speak their language so that they can learn yours. It’s going beyond transmission of thought, but of impact.
Examples:
- Dinosaur expert? Have T-Rex time (physical sensory-seeking activities) and Brachiosaur time (calm, regulating activities) by comparing desired behaviors to dinosaur species behaviors.
- Makes similar repeated movements? Allow them to see you remove a barrier to the preferred activity, give brief narration (“Here’s the trampoline so we can jump!”) and join in.
- Breaks things to see how they work? Model safe behavior when breaking things, repair strategies, and words for parts and actions.”
