For years there has been a push to “treat” or “cure” autism, and that has resulted in various forms of treatment targeted at autistic people. However, most of these have done more harm than good. What’s needed are treatments supporting and accepting autistic people for who they are and recognizing that they do not need to fit into societal standards in order to be considered deserving of rights. The best medical approaches and support tactics involve being understanding, and when implemented properly, can benefit all.
Communication
One particular challenge autistic people are faced with is communicating their thoughts and emotions with others. There are a multitude of reasons for this, for instance them being infantilized by their caregivers, them not being able to communicate traditionally, or them being in a situation where they are unable to communicate. Regardless of the why, this is a challenge that needs addressing. This problem is one that would be solved best if it were tackled from both sides, meaning that a caregiver would learn skills that would help them communicate with the person they’re helping and that the person they’re helping would learn techniques that would help them best communicate in a given situation. There are speech therapies besides the standard speech therapy treatments that can assist with this.
One method of communication emphasized by the autistic community is AAC, augmentative and alternative communication. AAC is any type of communication used by someone who can’t use spoken language, and this can include pointing at illustrations, writing, and gesticulating. These forms of speech are not any lesser than traditional speech, and should not be seen as such just because they are not the norm. There are some who adverse to this method of speaking as they claim it will impede the learning of more traditional forms of communication, but that is a myth that has been debunked.
It is worth noting that the focus on treatments should not be on trying to “train” a person to behave in a conventional way, speaking being a prime example. That line of thinking is ultimately damaging as it implies there is something wrong with people who behave differently, which there is not, and can have long lasting negative consequences on those subjected to it. Rather, treatments should be focused on offering people the support and help they need to lead a fulfilling life.
Managing Meltdowns
Meltdowns are a source of struggle and confusion for many. Parents of autistic children often don’t know what to do or how to react when faced with one, and autistic people themselves suffer greatly during a meltdown. The first step to learning how to “treat” a meltdown is understanding what one is, and what is causing it.
Meltdowns occur when an autistic person is overwhelmed and can be triggered by anything from sensory issues to societal expectations to current life events. As a person in the midst of a meltdown is incapable of processing information, behavioral methods are ineffective and are likely distressing. What a person in the middle of a meltdown is not, is trying to get attention. Those throwing a tantrum to gain attention or for the sake of a particular goal observe if their strategy is working, and if it is, they persist. That is not the case with one having a meltdown. In such a situation, the one in the midst of a meltdown is unaware of their surroundings, and can even risk putting themselves or others in danger.
The best way to deal with meltdowns is to try and figure out the cause of the meltdown and then working to resolve it. For instance, if it’s a sensory issue, such as music being played too loud, then turning down the music or even stopping it would provide much needed assistance and if this action were taken early enough, could even prevent a meltdown from happening at all.
There is the professionally recommended S.C.A.R.E.D. method that can be used to help deal with behavioral crises. First is to find a safe place. Next is to stay calm and speak with simple, easy to understand language. Then, use positive words to lighten the atmosphere. After, would be trying to help the person having a meltdown get into or through one of their safe routines. The final steps are to have empathy and to develop an intervention plan for the future.
It is important to not get into a fight involving heated emotions with someone having a meltdown, but to instead be kind and gentle.
The Right Kind of Therapy
In simple words, the right kind of therapy is one that makes the one receiving it feel good about themselves. This might seem obvious, but a look at how many suffer because of cruel therapy practices says otherwise. Quality therapy should focus on what the patient needs, not what the one “in charge” of the patient, for example a parent, thinks the patient needs. Because of how much harmful therapy there is in the world of treatment for autism, it can be hard to know what helpful therapy looks like. An example would be RPM, Rapid Prompting Method, that helps autistic children express themselves or Sensory Diet therapy that helps autistic children learn how to feel connected with their bodies. For some, therapy might not even be necessary. If it exhausts and overwhelms the one receiving it, it is most likely not worth keeping.
An important point to mention is that autistic people are not a monolith, meaning that what applies to one person does not necessarily apply to another. In fact, often their needs vary greatly as autism is a spectrum with a wide range. This should be kept in mind when seeking prospective autism treatments. A way to check the effectiveness of a treatment is to check in with the one receiving it and if they communicate unforced—whether it’s by body language, verbally, or another method—that they feel like it’s helpful, it probably is and is worth continuing.
