What is Autism?
Autism is a neurodivergent condition, which is to say it is a brain difference. Autism is a spectrum, and it affects multiple areas of life. Usually, the effects are individual to the person in question.
Autistic people vary in their needs, and those needs may vary from life stage to life stage. It’s important to recognize that Autistic children generally do not behave like Autistic adults, so comparing the two is unhelpful.
Typically, people with Autism experience:
- Differences in social communication.
- Specific interests.
- Stimming or other repetitive behaviors.
- Sensory restrictions.
- Strict worldviews.
- Comorbid conditions.
Referring to Autism
Autistic adults typically prefer identity-first language, with the reasoning that they wouldn’t be who they are today if they were not Autistic. Parents of Autistic children may prefer person-first language (i.e. child with Autism) or no label at all. Everyone is an individual, however, so it’s best to ask in the face of uncertainty.
The A in Autistic is traditionally capitalized to symbolize membership in a community. Some Autistic adults opt to add Au to their name to represent the same thing.
Cultural Note
Autistic adults routinely report that current behavioral therapy approaches to Autism treatments have caused them difficulty later in life and desensitized them to their own needs. Autistic adults routinely advocate that such treatments should not be used on children. Additionally, Autistic adults routinely provide education on why trying to use therapies to make any autistic person fit the norm, even with the goal to make their lives easier, is a net negative.
Creating an Accessible Environment for Autistic People
Make the Expectations Known
One of the common feelings for Autistic people is that everyone but them was handed a rulebook for life. As an organization, we can make the expectations for our events and chapter participation clear so everyone can enjoy it.
Newcomers guides, meeting agendas, and similar tools are all good options for helping an Autistic feel like they know what to expect when they attend a function. Using these options can help others feel welcome too.
Encourage Special Interests
A special interest is a narrow topic that an Autistic (or other neurotype) feels compelled to explore in great detail. For more than a few Autistics, Star Trek is their special interest. Typically, if a show is a special interest, someone will spend a good deal of time exploring the little details, behind-the-scenes information, and other things that other people may skip.
In these cases, it’s best to avoid making the fascination seem negative. The Autistic person does not see their participation as being a know-it-all, stuck up, or better than anyone else. They’re simply excited to share their favorite thing.
Be Willing to Break Tasks Down
As a whole, STARFLEET, the International Star Trek Fan Association, Inc., is a volunteer organization. Many wonderful volunteers perform vital functions. When an Autistic wants to do something, they may need a little support.
For many Autistics, executive function (the organizing of how to do things) is a challenge. Where possible, we should break larger tasks into smaller ones so that everything is more manageable. This can help more than Autistic people. Below is an example:
Task: Run a region wide Tactical event
- Select a date and time.
- Pick a game or games.
- Create graphics and social media post drafts.
- Let the region coordinator, commanding officers, and tactical officials know.
- Schedule the social media posts.
- Do other marketing, such as placing a graphic in newsletters.
- Do contingency planning.
- Run the event.
Allow Sensory Management
Sensory needs vary from person to person, and people without autism do experience sensory needs. For Autistics, the typical level of stimulation is excessive and overwhelms their ability to regulate. Noise canceling headphones, stimming (repetitive physical movement), special glasses, and more are all options an Autistic might use to manage their environment.
In many places, using noise cancelling earplugs, as an example, is considered rude. However, it doesn’t have to be. We can recognize that people are all different and embrace those differences gracefully.
Improve Flexible Options
Adding flexible options can seem daunting, but for the most part, it’s simpler thanks to modern technology. Most chapter meetings can be hybrid or the business portion posted online in a members only area.
Flexible options also extends to communication. For many Autistics, it’s easier to convey meaning in writing. Accepting these communications and assigning them the same value as spoken communication is one of the many ways we can embrace all of our members.
Feel like this guide is missing something? Let us know at sfcoa@sfi.org.
Want to know more about accessible communication? Check out Accessible Communication 101.