Autism is a developmental disability that impacts a person's social skills, communication, and self-regulation. It also affects the way people think, act, and relate to others. Autism is defined by certain behaviors that affect a person's ability to function normally, such as repetitive and obsessive behaviors and restricted interests.
Individuals with autism tend to have problems understanding other people's emotions and intentions. They often can't interpret nonverbal cues such as body language, facial expression, or tone of voice. That's why people with autism have difficulty integrating with age-appropriate people or can't make friends. Students often find they can't interact with a person with autism and find them odd or unusual in school. This puts the child at risk of being bullied and makes him reluctant to form friendships in the future. However, children are social animals, and even autistic kids need a social group they can belong to.
Through therapy (and other solutions), your child can learn the necessary social skills and live a fulfilling life. Social stories or enrolling your child in a sport can teach the child how to behave appropriately and how to interact with peers. There are many social situations your child won't be able to understand, so you need to explain how he needs to behave. Roleplaying is the easiest method to show your child how to interact with people who might not understand his autism symptoms.
For example, law enforcement has a hard time dealing with autistic persons. They view their behavior (avoiding eye contact, trying to reach for the shiny badge, etc.) as aggressive or disrespectful. In this scenario, your child needs to know how to behave and what is expected of him. Discover more about social interactions in this tag. You will find helpful materials that will make a difference in certain social situations.
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