The holidays are an exciting time for most but they also bring new levels of stress, deadlines, expectations, and changes in daily routines. For these reasons, the holiday season can be a particularly stressful time for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families. Changes in routines and the sudden introduction of new sights and sound stimuli can be very unnerving to many people with ASD. Dr. Cathy Pratt, Director of the Indiana Resource Center for Autism (IRCA), just published a thoughtful article with many practical tips to address these concerns. Follow this link (http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=570) for a rich variety of ideas for increasing predictability and decreasing anxiety-producing situations, whether you are entertaining at home or traveling for celebrations with others. The IRCA website also has a great deal of information for families, including publications, training modules and opportunities to sign up for workshops. We wish all of our families a safe, happy, and healthy holiday season!
Home » Holidays and Family Members with Autism