The trouble with no routine and people with autism.

One of the central things that people on the spectrum need is routine.  Johnathan was in a terrible state on Monday Bank Holiday after Easter Sunday.

Because we had nothing planned for the day we just let him sleep on until he woke up.  But that was not what he wanted.  He thought he needed to rush and was upset we hadn’t woken him earlier.

Actually, there were a few reasons we allowed him to sleep on, but it took quite some time for him to be able to hear them.  However, hearing and accepting aren’t always the same thing.

Routine is the most important thing to anyone on the spectrum.  They don’t like to be without it.  It is something that anchors their day together.

Now that I have considered the whole process, I am wondering whether it would have been better to explain we don’t actually HAVE a specific routine on that day but use it as a rest day to build up our strength.  When you live with disability you have to allow yourself - your body, mind and spirit to restore themselves as you rest (or at least attempt to!)

I don’t know if we had told him about it, if that would have caused a meltdown or if he would have coped better with it the next day.  Have you told your child the night before that there will be no routine the next day, or waited until the morning to tell them?