BOISE, Idaho — Change is scary and sensory overloads are too much for anyone on the autism spectrum. So, one can only imagine the stress someone of the spectrum feels when asked to wear a face mask during a pandemic.
Doctor Elena Harlan with St. Luke's Children's Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disabilities said for parents and caregivers, looking for tips and tricks to protect their loved one, the best first step is building excitement around the mask.
“It could be a material that maybe has their favorite cartoon character on it or their favorite video game character on it or something they really love like Pokemon or something like that,” Harlan said.
Harlan also suggests picking a material that feels comfortable. Let them use their sense to decide what feels right.
“If they like soft things you know try to choose a material that’s super soft…try to choose a material that doesn’t have a lot of weird smell to it you know let them smell and decide what one is best," she said.
Dr. Harlan also encourages parents and caregivers to model their behaviors at home. Make it normal to wear a mask regularly. By doing this, parents and caregivers will slowly make it part of the daily routine.
BOISE, Idaho <unk> Mabadiliko ni ya kuogopesha na mzigo wa hisia ni mwingi sana kwa mtu yeyote kwenye wigo wa autism. Kwa hivyo, mtu anaweza tu kufikiria mkazo mtu wa wigo anahisi anapulizwa kuvaa kinyago cha uso wakati wa janga. Daktari Elena Harlan wa Kituo cha Watoto cha St. Luke's kwa Autism na Ulemavu wa Neurodevelopmental alisema kwa wazazi na watunzaji, wakitafuta vidokezo na ujanja wa kumlinda mpendwa wao, hatua bora ya kwanza ni kujenga msisimko karibu na kinyago. "Inaweza kuwa nyenzo ambayo labda ina tabia yao ya kupenda ya katuni juu yake au tabia yao ya kupenda ya mchezo wa video juu yake au kitu wanachopenda sana kama Pokemon au kitu kama hicho, ""Harlan alisema." Harlan pia anapendekeza uchague kitambaa kinachohisi vizuri. Wacha watumie akili yao kuamua kile kinachohisi kuwa sawa. "Ikiwa wanapenda vitu laini unajua jaribu kuchagua nyenzo ambayo ni laini sana... jaribu kuchagua nyenzo ambayo haina harufu ya ajabu sana unajua waache harufu na kuamua ni ipi bora, "alisema. Harlan pia anawatia moyo wazazi na watunzaji wa watoto kuiga tabia zao nyumbani. Fanya kuwa kawaida kuvaa kinyago mara kwa mara. Kwa kufanya hivyo, wazazi na watunzaji watafanya hatua kwa hatua kuwa sehemu ya utaratibu wa kila siku.