Meaningful activities

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Hi,

I work with adults with autism who have learning disabilities and limited verbal communication.

The majority of people I support may well never have the opportunity to go out to work so I'm always thinking of ways in which they could be meaningfully occupied at home throughout the day.

As a starting point I am looking at their special interests and passions, and exploring ways in which they can expand and create opportunities for learning during the day. I am struggling with the concept 'meaningful' activity especially when the people I support are unable to tell me what might be meaningful for them.

Does anyone have some advice, experiences or stories to tell on this subject?

Thank you s much

While I have AS rather than non-verbal autism, and can't claim to know how these individuals experience life, I can speculate.

Meaningful would be something they enjoy doing. I've seen various videos online of those with non-verbal autism using computers. Some enjoy playing games on them while others like to simply press a particular button, or hear a specific part of a song over and over again.

Many of these individuals like manipulating objects as well. However, what you decide to have them do will ultimately depend on the functioning level and abilities of that specific individual. Some non-verbal individuals barely interact with the world around them while others have intact life skills and can perform complex tasks while generally appearing to act as if everyone around them is invisible, and then others might have certain life skills deficits yet make an attempt to interact with others in their surrounding.

Thank so much for your feedback, very helpful.

I guess also another thing I am always thinking about is whether is it OK for a person to spend loads of time ( can be all day everyday) on a special interest i.e. tearing paper? It may give them lots of enjoyment but should I be concerned that its not really creating an opportunity for communication, social interaction or learning?

Hi Katie,

I agree with the other poster that I can only speculate as to what their situation may be like based on my own experiences.

For myself, yes I can spend all day everyday immersed in something that I enjoy, however, research seems to indicate that it is better for individuals to do some of a good thing, a little bit over a period of time. As in, it isn't good to sit for hours at a time, it is better to sit, then move about, then return to sitting. Or for your eyes, it is better to take breaks looking at a computer screen and practice using your vision that goes into the distance so that your eyes don't get weak when it comes to distances. Pulling someone out of their activity may be the most challenging part for you. I Know I have a hard time getting myself to take a break for even things like eating, drinking, taking a rest room break when I am totally occupied.

I can also tell you that "meaningful activity" can be a whole range of things. I love sorting things. LOVE IT. My mom has me sort out things like greetings cards, old software and stuff that needs recycled, and had me organize her screwed up recipe card box. This was recently when I was too depressed and anxious and to do anything else. If I have a good system for sorting something, I feel very very satisfied with the process, and very good about myself when I am done because I have created so much organization. I dont know if some of your clients tearing paper type interests could be applied to areas such as recycling sorting, or something like that. It might help to turn a repetitive interest into something that adds to the household, like cleaning the sink, or sweeping the floor.

as far as your worry that someone is doing ONE thing too much, I think a thing to keep in mind is that they enjoy the activity, but at some point it was a new activity to them and they didnt know they enjoyed it. So if you continually give them new sensory experiences (In a safe, non invasive way) they might at least have the chance to choose, to either keep the thing they like doing or to find out they like something else equally or more. I certainly keep finding new things that I enjoy but it is because I have resources around me to use, and the skills to describe what I want and the ability to try things (in particular Ive been rubbing my feet on the carpet and found a wooden foot roller thing that Im super excited about hehe)

anyway! Not sure how helpful I was, but it sounds like you are at least brainstorming for the benefit of those you work with, so that is a good start.