World Autism Awareness Day: 5 ways to make PTA events more autism-friendly
Image: Primary school-aged girl smiling, wearing colourful face paint and a handmade paper hat.
1) Time to prepare
Send a letter home to parents about your upcoming event and give as much detail as possible so they can prepare their child ahead of time. You could also add your PTA’s contact information in case parents have questions or requests.
2) Designate a quiet space
Autistic children can experience sensory challenges with sounds, crowds, lights, clothing and smells. Have a quiet space where they can decompress if they need to, and let them and their parents know where it will be.
3) Offer alternatives
Wherever possible, make autism-friendly alternatives to your events so that all children can join in. For example, if you’re holding a colour run, have an alternative route that avoids the colour powder stations.
4) Allow a plus one
Whether it’s a movie night, fun run or meeting Father Christmas, sometimes having a parent or sibling present can make all the difference to an autistic child and will help them feel more comfortable in new situations. Consider offering a permanent (and free) plus one invitation for all events.
5) Just ask!
Not sure what will make an autistic child feel more comfortable at your event? Just ask! Speak to their teacher, support staff, parents and the child themselves to get a better understanding of their needs.
The National Autistic Society has lots of information and resources available on their website, including their ‘Too much information’ campaign. The aim of this campaign was to build awareness and understanding of the five core features of autism and what actions you can take to help autistic people.
Find out more-
Greetings from BeyondAutism, a non-profit dedicated to ensuring autistic children and young adults access an education which empowers a life full of choice, independence, and opportunity. -
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