#self induldent art all the way

[linipik]

Best Camp Medic

[autismisaokay]

hi how do i be more respectful of my autistic friend? i love her a lot but i just don’t know if there’s things i should/could be doing that i’m not or things i’m doing that i shouldn’t be. im not autistic so i don’t know a lot

Okay, so it’s great that you are so into being there for your friend and trying to take steps to try and become the best you can be. Every autistic person is different and there for how you treat them has to be different too. I can explain to you how my some of my friends treat me but over all the biggest thing I can say is ask your friend. What makes her most comfortable, how can you improve, what overwhelms her and how can you help with that?

What really helped me is when I was out with them at somewhere for example as a restraunt my friends would order for me. They’d ask first what I wanted and then order. Now I do it on my own except if I’m having off days but it really helped knowing that my friend was also there and could back me up incase I needed help.

Always be specific in what you say especially if you want something done. 

Wrong way:

“I need you to copy some notes for me.”

Right way:

“I need you to copy some notes on the lecture for our art proffesors talk on color theory.”

Take time to indulde in their special intrests it means the world to autisic people when we aren’t tuned out of our conversations about them. However if you don’t have time or can’t handle it right now give them an actual time of when they can talk to you about it such as “You can talk to me tomorrow at 3:00 clock about special interest.” This goes back to the rule of specifics.

Some autistic people sometimes take awhile to get a response out so give time for responses. If someone cuts them off say “Hey so and so was going to say something.” Most autistic people have something called “auditory processing disorder” I have it too and basically we can hear what you are saying our brains aren’t processing it right away. Or what you said might get completley lost in translation.

Autistic people often need things repeated to them when learning something new. Do not get angry or fustrated and just repeat what you said.

Give them time to themselves to recooperate being social takes out energy from us.

Don’t judge your friend for her stimming. Stimming is reptivie motions that help self regulate the body. It can be things like consistant leg tapping, pen clicking, or flapping or hands. There are many ways to do it but as long as she’s not hurting herself or anyone else it shouldn’t be judged.

Above all let her know she can always come to you and she is accepted by you.