We all love going out to eat…But when your child is autistic this family treat can become a family nightmare.

There are various ways to prepare your autistic child for eating out.

• You could start by a simple role play of the eating out experience…
• Maybe you could show your autistic child a sample menu…Introduce this at your own family meal time…”Isn’t this fun…can you choose your dinner from the menu (add name)
• Autism Social Stories are an excellent tool at this time…Introduce your autistic child to the idea of eating out. By using theses simple but effective social skills stories, the social skill stories will explain, what happens in a restaurant…what is expected of them and also what they can expect from others.
• Have a rehearsal in a small fast food restaurant or salad bar first
• Try to visit the restaurant to familiarize your autistic child with the establishment first.

A few things you may want to keep in mind before the actual eating out experience are:

• Have you prepared your child enough before actually setting the date
• Have you introduced an appropriate autism social story- explaining what is going to happen, and when it is going to happen.
• Make sure you have taken the time to check the restaurant is the same as when you bought your child along for a visit …No re-decorating has happened etc..
• Have you practiced with your menu at home? It may be an idea to actually bring along some food from home-just incase.
• Try and make sure all your children have used the bathroom before you leave, public bathrooms can be a whole new experience and may cause anxiety triggers in your autistic child.
• To be on the safe side bring along a social skills story for using the bathroom while you are out “autism social stories and going to the bathroom”. You may want to have already introduced this story to your child before the meal out – to be on the safe side.
• Try and choose a restaurant where the service is normally very fast, or try and have a quiet word with your waiter and explain your child is autistic and could he please hurry your orders and service along.
• Remember to always keep one eye on your autistic child…he wont think twice about helping himself to the kid on the next tables burger or fries…Or shouting out. Be aware of the people on the tables near to yours.
• If at all possible ask to be seated in a quiet part of the restaurant away from others.

Remember restaurants are full of stimulation, smells, noises, sights, lights. You will need to be very aware of these. But as long as you have prepared your child by using an appropriate autism social story, your child should already be aware of these and you will be able to take appropriate actions to avoid certain situations.

For detailed information on autism social stories visit us at

http://www.autismsocialstories.com

http://www.autismsocialstories.com/behavior

Though autistic disorder is often thought of as a single condition, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in fact refers to five different kinds of autism. When most people think about autism, they’re only thinking about one type – the kind they saw in the movie Rainman – and don’t realize that this is only a fifth of the disorders to which autism truly refers.

The first type of autism is called Classic Autism. It’s also known as Kanner’s autism, or Kanner’s disorder after a doctor who researched the condition in the 1930s through the 1940s. Classic autism is one of the lower functioning forms in the spectrum, and is identified by its high level of social and communication issues. Children with the classic autistic disorder rarely interact with the majority of people. They often suffer from poor motor skills and frequently repeat actions and motions. They are also generally reluctant to make eye contact and may display temper tantrums when they experience a change in their usual routine or environment. Though some individuals with classic autism are completely verbal, many struggle to communicate through speech, and others cannot speak at all.

The second form of autism is referred to as Rett’s Syndrome. This type off autistic disorder is another low-functioning one. Rett’s is exclusive to females and often occurs in conjunction with mental retardation. Rett’s girls are typically impaired in their movements and will rarely communicate verbally. Studies have concluded that Rett’s is passed on genetically, though no hypothesis has yet to be proven regarding the reason that it occurs only in girls when all other types of autism occur in boys 75 percent of the time.

The third kind of autistic disorder is Childhood Disintegrative Disorder. Children with this form of autism often develop normally, or are diagnosed with Classic Autism or Rett’s Syndrome. However, the diagnosis changes with the speech and motor skill problems that accelerate. Regression occurs between the ages of two and four for an unknown reason, though it is suspected that it may be brought about by illness or types of surgery. This hypothesis has yet to be proven.

The fourth form of autistic disorder is Asperger’s Syndrome. It is easy to misdiagnose children with this disorder as they generally have better social and communication skills than other autistic children, but they still face limitations. It typically isn’t until these children begin school that these limitations start to become obvious. Children with Asperger’s often do very well with behavioral treatments and are able to exist quite well within a normal lifestyle when they begin these therapies as early as possible.

The last form of autistic disorder is also the most vague. It is called PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified) and is the diagnosis given to children who are believed to have autism but whose condition does not fit the typical definition of the other four types of autistic disorder. These children may have some symptoms that match some of the autism forms, but do not have a specific kind of autism that can be diagnosed.

Part of the understanding of autism comes along with the knowledge of where the disorder may have come from and what can worsen the symptoms. There are many different theories, including the impact that allergies can have on an autistic child.

For some autistic people and relatives of those on the spectrum the autism disorder classifications are two broad and there is a belief that effective treatments are unlikely to be discovered until the spectrum is broken down further. A common phrase within the autism arena goes like this…’when you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism’. This phrase highlights the diversity of symptoms and abilities of people grouped together under the spectrum umbrella and confirms the complexity of this disorder.

Grab your free copy of Rachel Evans’ brand new Autism Newsletter – Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you discover effective methods for maximizing the potenital of a loved one with autistic disorder. And for information on the different types of autism please visit The Essential Guide To Autism blog.

Anyone shopping for a child knows it is hard to find something that the child will love and that the parents won’t mind having in their home. However, when it comes to buying a toy for autistic children, it is so much harder to make the right choice. One of the most important thing anyone searching for the right toy should remember is that the age listings on games and toys are a guideline, but they are rarely right for children with autism. If you aren’t sure about what age group that child might fall into on a developmental level, you should be sure to ask the parents. As long as you keep that information in mind, you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding something that works, but there are other things to keep in mind as well.

When looking at toys, you have to consider quite a few things. The parents will appreciate that you put thought into what to buy. Some children with autism will rip just about anything that is made of paper, so you may not want to buy anything that could easily be shredded. Look for toys that are very sturdy and will take some rough play. Also, some children don’t work well with toys that have a lot of pieces. If you can find something that has one or two parts for children such as these, you have found something suitable. Also, small pieces can be choking hazards for many children, so ask before buying anything with small, removable pieces.

Many autistic children love to play alone. This is not always the case, but it is for the majority. It might depend on the developmental level of the child, but even some high functioning children prefer to play alone. If you can find something they can do on their own without having to have more than one player, or without having an adult assist them, you may have found a great toy for them. Toys that have repetitive motions and actions might also be a hit, as some autistic children get caught up in that sort of play. The suitability of bright colors or vivid textures can depend on the child as some have an aversion to certain things. Ask the parents for guidance.

Continue reading for more toy suggestions and to sign up for the free autism newsletter below covering all aspects of autism.

When it comes to children who are higher functioning, there are some great educational toys out there. When you buy a toy for autistic kids who are learning things, you should keep their level of learning in mind. There are toys that help with spelling, counting, subtraction and addition, and some that help with writing and sounds. Don’t buy something that is beyond their current learning level as this can just frustrate them and they’ll lose interest quickly. Music is not really a toy, but many autistic children love music. A DVD or CD just might be a great present that they would love.

You shouldn’t have too hard a time finding a toy for autistic children if you keep the function and developmental level of the child in mind. You may find the perfect toy, but remember, well thought and age-appropriate toys are sometimes ignored and unused. You shouldn’t take it personally. Buying a toy for any child is a little hit and miss and the same goes for autistic children. When it doubt, ask the parents for guidance, as they know their child the best.

By Rachel Evans. Sign up for a free newsletter for more information on autism. In the newsletter you’ll find out more about the signs and symptoms of autism.