Greens, blues, pinks, soft oranges and neutrals can be very comforting. Keeping the colors muted, these tones can quiet the mind and create calm.
Use simple colours
Using creams and pastel colours can reduce the risk of sensory overload. When compared to bright and potentially distracting colours like yellow. Patterns and complex, embedded background images can be distracting, too.
On world autism awareness day, April 2nd, you may see plenty of blue being shown off to support autism awareness. The color blue's association to autism originated with the autism advocacy association known as Autism Speaks. Their “Light it Up Blue” campaign calls for people to wear blue to promote autism awareness.
A sensory bedroom is a place for your child to explore their senses and learn about the world around them. It's also a place for them to feel safe and comfortable so that they can fully focus on their activity. As such, the atmosphere, lighting, and smell of the room should be equal parts stimulating and familiar.
Choose fabrics that appeal to him and are soft and snuggly: cotton, flannel, sateen, or t-shirt materials. Consider patterns and prints that are fun but not overly stimulating. Weighted blankets and heavy comforters can support sleep patterns because they provide deep touch pressure sensory input.
A softly lit space is a more relaxing environment for children with autism. This is because bright lights can cause overstimulation of the nervous system. So pick somewhere that is not too bright. Try using shades over the windows, a teepee or tent to go inside or include mood lighting with a lamp or night light.
As mentioned in our Fabrics for Sensitive Skin post, natural fibers are one of the most reliable sources of sensory-friendly fabrics. Fibers such as cotton, linen, and bamboo are naturally breathable and insulating, allowing for a more relaxing wear.
Multi-colored puzzle piece ribbon
As previously mentioned, the symbol that most people associate with autism is the multi-colored, interlocking puzzle piece. This symbol was created by 15 people, some of which were autistic (or people with autism) and others were autism advocates.
More recent research has used the house mouse (Mus musculus) to model autism because it is a social species. Other strains of mice used include mu opioid receptor knockout mice, as well as Fmr1 knockout mice; the latter are also used as animal models of Fragile X syndrome.
White-ish, plain-coloured walls are the best for projection and light effects as they reflect their wonderful colours and patterns without augmenting any sensory magic. The plain walls also create a brilliant blank canvas for you to create a personal sensory experience.
With autism, it's all about the kind of touch that the child is seeking. Some children who don't like hugs or cuddling really love roughhousing.
Autistic children can have particular sleep and settling problems, including: irregular sleeping and waking patterns – for example, lying awake until very late or waking very early in the morning. sleeping much less than expected for their age, or being awake for more than an hour during the night.
Most children with autism experience some type of sleep problems due to sensory overload and other issues. They often find sleeping on the floor more comforting than laying in bed.
Check Meetup.com for local autism-focused groups in your area. Some groups will likely be for parents of autistic children, but others may be for autistic teens and/or adults. If your area has groups for teens and adults, you might find advocacy-focused groups, social groups such as gaming groups, or support groups.
Too much information. Sometimes an autistic person may behave in a way that you wouldn't immediately link to sensory differences. A person who finds it difficult to process everyday sensory information can experience sensory overload, or information overload.
Blue “Forget-me-not” flower to raise awareness for the needs of people with autism.
Inheritance. ASD has a tendency to run in families, but the inheritance pattern is usually unknown. People with gene changes associated with ASD generally inherit an increased risk of developing the condition, rather than the condition itself.
Famous for their long memories, elephants share strong bonds with their herds and even recognize each other after being separated for decades. This enduring connection is especially strong between a mother elephant and her baby, making it the perfect symbol of the bond forged by families that are touched by autism.
Many autistic people experience hypersensitivity to bright lights or certain light wavelengths (e.g., LED or fluorescent lights). Certain sounds, smells, textures and tastes can also be overwhelming. This can result in sensory avoidance – trying to get away from stimuli that most people can easily tune out.