Strategies for Neurotypical People to Develop Empathy for Autistic People
Historically, there has been much discussion about the extent to which autistic people experience empathy. I am using the phrase “autistic people” rather than “people with autism,” per the recommendation from the Autism Self-Advocacy Network. Recent studies indicate that while autistic people may experience and demonstrate empathy in different ways from neurotypical people, they do indeed experience it, sometimes to intense degrees. The debate is well summarized here. Throughout this discussion, I have observed a curious and glaring omission: what about how and whether neurotypical people empathize with autistic people? One of the basic tenets of social skills is reciprocity, an attunement to the back and forth nature of social…
Childhood Memories and Lessons that Influence my Work as a Pediatric Occupational Therapist: Part 1
Below, I will share childhood memories that influence my daily work as a pediatric occupational therapist. Accessing my childhood memories helps me identify with a child’s perspective, even if that child has a specific disability or challenge that I did not experience. When I find myself mystified by a child’s behavior or perspective, I conjure up vivid memories of what it was really like to be a child. Remembering the complexity of my social, emotional and academic experiences helps build a crucial bridge of empathy between myself and my students. My lessons are geared towards older elementary aged students who are mostly in the general education setting, as those are the children…
Why and How Do Pediatric Occupational Therapists Play Games?
Why do pediatric occupational therapists (OTs) play games? Pediatric therapist are often asked why we spend time “just” playing games with our clients. In addition to being engaging to children, games are powerful tools through which we work on a variety of skills including fine motor, visual-motor, gross motor, strength, social, emotional, sensory, and attention, planning and other executive functioning skills. OTs are experts in adapting games to fit a child’s goals. A competent occupational therapist will never “just play” a game with a child. The game itself and many aspects of the game’s set-up will be consciously chosen and adapted on a minute by minute basis so as to support the child’s…