By Kathakali | Project Leader
R is a young adult who has been living in Ananda for the past few years. Like many individuals with autism, R thrives on routine and any changes can be incredibly challenging for him. Additionally, activities outside the comfort of Ananda often cause him significant anxiety. In 2022 we decided to take him for lunch at a nearby restaurant . Although it was part of his schedule and he went with everyone, he refused to go inside the restaurant because the transition was too overwhelming for him.
We decided to work with R on this issue. We began using social stories to help him prepare for these outings. The day before, we would mark the event on his calendar and talk about it with excitement and positivity, building up his anticipation.
Another approach we used was behaviour shaping. On our first visit to the restaurant, we took him there, waited for a minute, and then returned to the centre. We repeated this process over the next few visits, gradually making him more comfortable with the environment. All these strategies worked for him and now whenever he goes out for a lunch or dinner he goes inside the restaurant, sits with everyone, enjoys his food and sometimes even spends more time at the restaurant, engaging with the group.
It's been a rewarding journey and we're proud of the progress R has made.
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