For more resources featuring the Neurodivergent Narwhal, visit Neurodivergent Narwhals – Ed Wiley Autism Acceptance Lending Library

You might notice how autism can present differently over time, or in different environments. For example, a child's profile at school could look very different to how it does in the home.

If you need to repeat yourself, try to use the same words, so the person doesn't have to begin the decoding process all over again!

That's it, you're all set - explore and enjoy!

Now imagine feeling like that every day of your life! For some autistic people, that is their reality.

• Be aware of cyber bullying

• Sometimes the person with autism can become the bully as they may not understand or appreciate the situation

• Bullying can lower already low self-esteem

A ‘monotropic’ mind is a very special kind, it’s one that likes to do one damn thing at a time!

It can be helpful if the point of doing something is clearly explained, or if the task is connected in some way to a person's interests.

Click the image above to access a treasure trove of information about monotropism.

• Switching from one task to another can take more mental effort for those with a monotropic brain and nervous system, so unexpected change may feel catastrophic.

• Respect a person's need for structure, build in transition time and be patient, offering support through times of change.

• Some people may have good visual or factual memory.

• Being autistic can bring a unique perspective, seeing connections and patterns others might miss.

• Precision, accuracy and analytical thinking may be strong attributes.

You would have a bunch of people standing around in a cave, chatting and socializing and not getting anything done.”

Temple Grandin
The way I see it, 2008

• Gustatory – Taste / Texture

• Tactile – Touch

• Visual – Sight

• Olfactory – Smell

• Proprioception – Awareness of the position/movement of the body

• Vestibular – Balance and movement

• Interoception – Understanding/responding to what goes on inside your body

•Try to understand how being autistic affects the person's experience of the world

•Reduce or eliminate sources of anxiety

•Gently support motivation, confidence and self esteem

•Enable concentration / remove distractions - one damn thing at a time!

•Play to the strengths of each individual

•Find what works for them

•Allow time to build trust and connection

• Agitation

• Increased anxiety – maybe asking the same question repeatedly

• Greater obsession with ‘special interests’

• Shutdown – no communication

• Pacing around, hand flapping (stimming)
(can also occur when excited)

• Anger or fear

• Take the person out of the situation immediately or move others from them

• Do not try and resolve when anger levels are high (it will not work!)

• Deal with the situation when they have calmed down

• Get to know the person so you can spot them starting to wind up before it is too late

The spectrum isn’t linear; using terms like ‘mild/severe’, or ‘high/low functioning’ can be unhelpful, as a person’s support needs will change over time. 

Many autistic people do not have a formal diagnosis, or do not realise that they are autistic until later in life. Self-diagnosis is generally accepted within the autistic community.

To use a metaphor, a polytropic focus is like having a lantern in a dark room, which illuminates everything a bit, while a monotropic focus is like having an intense torch, lighting one area in great detail (Thanks to Salt for my Squid for the image above!).

I may think I've communicated with my children, when I shout 'dinner's ready!' up the stairs, but if they are in their rooms wearing headphones they won't receive my message!

By understanding the way being monotropic shapes a person's experiences, and building in adjustments to our environment, policies, social norms and expectations, neurodivergent people will be more likely to flourish.

Find out more about Monotropism at monotropism.org

Recent historical research has also highlighted that Hans Asperger, after whom Asperger's Syndrome was named, worked within the Nazi system, so many people now feel uncomfortable using this label. That said, many people still identify as having Asperger's, and we should respect people's preferences.