28/09/2026
Inspired by a recent conversation I had with a classmate of my client. This boy was curious and asked really good questions about his friend. These questions made me realise how simply we can explain something when we take time to look at it from a child’s perspective. So I turned our conversation into a little story about what autism can look like with hopes that some of you could find useful in answering similar questions when being asked.
Everyone’s brain is like a computer and not every computer has the same settings. An autistic brain may simply have different settings that enable them to experience the world a little differently.
For some children with autism, sounds, lights, smells or touch can feel much stronger than they do for others. Some may also seek more movement, sounds or sensory. Their sensory world may simply be turned up - or down.
Stimming (Self-stimulatory behaviour) is a way for individuals with autism to regulate, communicate uneasiness or simply to show that it feels good. Stimming behaviours isn’t always about being “naughty” , more often than not , it’s a form of communication and we should all take some time to understand it.
Most of us were taught a certain way to socialise since young , either through observations or by our caregivers. Imagine it being a handbook, and it’s not that individuals with autism did not get the handbook, but there were some missing pages. Some of them may not automatically pick up all the unwritten rules. Things like taking turns, joining a game, reading facial expressions or understanding jokes may need to be taught explicitly. Hence, they might not feel like playing with others sometimes because it can be incredibly stressful to gauge social play when you need to try twice as hard.
Imagine trying to unscrew a a screw using fingers only, it’s gonna be hard. We need screwdrivers. Sometimes , you just need the right tool to help. When we take some time to understand what they need, we can then have the right tools to communicate and play together. Accommodations aren’t cheating, they are tools that help people participate and succeed.
WE are all unique individuals and this applies to individuals