On the Autism Spectrum
BY AIZA DELA CRUZ
NOWADAYS, more people are becoming aware of autism but there are still those who have outdated beliefs and false notions about it. Some thought that parents should just keep their autistic children at home as they “don’t know how to behave in the typical world” and they “would just be bothersome and cumbersome to the people around them”.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child has a specific right written for children with disabilities. It states that “Every child with a disability should enjoy the best possible life in society. Governments should remove all obstacles for children with disabilities to become independent and to participate actively in the community.”
This right to “enjoy the best possible life in society” includes travel and recreation activities. Yes, children with disabilities also love to travel and enjoy experiences offered by recreation facilities. Autistics are also like any other child who wants to explore the world around them.
So, when a parent of an autistic shared their horrible experience in a known resort, everyone in the autism community was aghast. Their experience is one of the worst fears of a parent. Discrimination, prejudice, and hate – these all trigger grave worry and fear in us because we are always concerned that our autistic children will not be accepted for being different, and that society would shun them.
Thus, it was timely that the Autism Society Philippines (ASP) decided to address this issue with a sensitivity and tourism education webinar during the 25th National Autism Consciousness Week on Jan. 18 to 24 with the theme, “Pilipinong May Autismo: Kakaiba, Kasali, Konektado”.
ASP Chair Emerita Erlinda Uy Koe talked about “Caring for the ASD Tourist”. I would like to share the salient points in her talk here.
All autistics have challenges and it is we parents who help them try to overcome and manage these challenges. Establishment owners and their staff need to understand that autistics have sensory demands, repetitive behavior, and difficulties in communication and in coping with changes in routine.
Not all autistics are the same. As Dr. Stephen Shore said, “If you’ve met one individual with autism, you’ve met one individual with autism”. Each autistic has different sensory demands. Some are averse to loud sounds and of crowded places and don’t like to be touched. Some cannot modulate their voice and can be loud, and may want to touch other people. Autistics have repetitive behaviors like rocking, flapping, or even walking back and forth. They are not being rude or threatening or weird. It is something they have no control over. Others do these to take in regulate their emotions.
They have difficulties in accepting changes in their routine and, as parents, we do our best to prepare them. We talk things through with them, rehearse them, and practice with them. Even the simple task of wearing a mask, we have to explain to them everything about it – what is a mask, how to wear a mask, why is a mask needed, how long to wear the mask, when can the mask be removed, and so on.
Most autistics have difficulty with communication in a way typical people do. Some are non-verbal, some can speak but cannot converse, and some can converse but can’t comprehend. They may have difficulties in expressing themselves, and conveying their needs and wants.
It is hard to fully understand an autistic. However, the autistic community is not demanding special treatment or facilities to specifically cater to their needs.
There are simple doable ways to accommodate an autistic tourist. These are: being informed about autism, understanding their challenges, interacting with them, and helping in avoiding stress.
Parents, autism groups, and even the autistics themselves are happy to help establishments educate their staff about autism and to help them in dealing and interacting with autistic.
We all want to avoid stress and conflict. So parents sometimes, have reasonable requests to avoid stress on their autistic children, such as wanting a room far away from the noise in connection with their sensory issues or asking for information about an establishment’s facilities and services.
There are two fundamental things for a happy trip for an autistic: a non-judgmental and well-informed staff, and information.
ASP Chair Emerita Erlinda Uy Koe emphasized that an autistic tourist only needs understanding and compassion from the people around him.
Autistics also do their best to cope and thrive in this typical world. We should do our best in accommodating and understanding them rather than them trying to adjust and fit in with us. Their neurobiology already sets them apart from other people. We have to learn to embrace and accept their difference.
I enjoin everyone to have more compassion and understanding for all children with different abilities. I will now use children with different abilities, instead of children with special needs, to emphasize and promote their abilities, capabilities, and potentials. It is also in recognition of the neurodiversity of people.
I would also like to hear the experiences of other parents who have children on the autism spectrum. You may email me at genevieveaiza.delacruz@gmail.com. I am a member of the Autism Society Philippines (ASP), a national non-profit organization dedicated to the well-being of persons with an autism spectrum disorder./PN
