trimalkin

  My Mega List of Autistic-friendly Activity Suggestions This list has grown over time with ideas from friends, colleagues, social groups.  They are activities I would feel comfortable hosting or co-hosting, or attending and I have shared many with local groups already.  Posting it here for easy access because sharing is caring.   Special thanks to LM for the huge starter list.  Some activities are local to Calgary but many could be done anywhere you are. Some I would bring foam earplugs for, or call ahead for gluten-free options. photo source: Canva Considerations low demand / easy sensory friendly (bring stim toys & fidgets, scent-free, quiet, temperature not extreme, reduce visual clutter, flashing lights) allergy informed (if food is involved offer gluten-free, nut-free, vegan etc. depending on who RSVPs) accessible (wheelchairs, walkers, walking sticks) drop in - come/leave freely (no fear of being late) ask community what else they’d like to see Online / Learning - easy Coffe

I have shared this list with close friends, family and colleagues a few times and folks are always so grateful.  I'm sharing here today in the hopes that it will help someone out there. Maybe you'll find something helpful to help you with depression, anxiety, burnout and just general self care. I didn't know I was Autistic when I started the list.  I have been collecting these strategies for around 30 years, starting with the first few suggestions from well-meaning people who didn't know the difference between depression and Autistic burnout, and adding strategies from my more recent C-PTSD therapy.  We are all different and this isn't medical advice but we learn from each other when that's the only option left and we have been dismissed and invalidated over and over again in the past.  To learn more, see my previous post  Autistic Burnout - What Helped Me Depression:  physical activity and being with friends helps me. Autistic burnout or shut down: only sleep,

  When you think of a spectrum, do you visualize a linear gradient from 0-10, or from white to black, or from low to high ‘functioning?’ People are not generally brilliant at everything or nothing, and that’s especially true for Autistic people. It seems like people are expected to be at least 'average' at 'most things,' especially in school. I felt bad about struggling in math and physical education until I learned that dyscalculia and dyspraxia are common in Autistic people. I excelled in English, French and Art classes, but that never felt to me like it made up for my struggles, until I learned (in adulthood) about this uneven distribution of abilities and began to understand the 'spiky profile' of Autistic abilities and struggles. Many artists, authors, scientists, engineers, doctors, and inventors over the years were likely Autistic (never diagnosed), based on descriptions of their ‘quirkiness’ and their hyper-focus on their passions or intense interest