A client that’s not returning the engagement you’re looking for, doesn’t mean that they’re not listening. There’s a lot to consider when thinking of Autistic learning styles.
Have you ever gone to a dance class or a group lesson with a skill you’ve never done before? Like suddenly you’re in advanced level Zumba and the instructor is calling out dance terms you’ve never done before?
I don’t know about you, but I’m either moving to the back of the classroom, looking to see what someone else is doing, or leaving. Y’all not embarrassing me out in these streets.
But yet, sometimes we do the same to neurodivergent clients.
I may tell a client, “It’s time to go” but continue to answer a parent’s question. 𝑵𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒓. 𝑷𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒌.
I may tell a client, “it’s time to color this sheet. It’s your favorite, dinosaurs!” But there are a ton of crayons on the table…. 𝒔𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒕 𝒉𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕? 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒍 𝒃𝒆? 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒆?
I give a client an shape sorter. They start to put the pieces in. I pull out more pieces out of my pocket. 𝑴𝑶𝑹𝑬?? 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒆𝒏𝒅?
These are just examples of when I’ve used confusing directions, with my words or with my language.
I’m telling you, I’ve done it.
And I’ve said, “ I’m sorry. That didn’t make much sense, did it?”
Knowing how an autistic client learns can be so helpful. When we problem solve versus assume, so many opportunities for learning can happen (for everyone!)
To learn more about autistic learning styles, neurodiversity, and more, check the blog A Dime of OT!
Dr. Diamond