Accommodations for Autistic Adults: Part 3
We are finally at the final post in this series about accommodations for autistic adults! In part 1, we talked about social needs, communication needs, and stim needs. In part 2, we talked about special interests and sensory needs. This time, we are going to explore interoception and proprioception needs.
As a reminder one last time, accommodations aren’t just for work. We need them in all areas of life, including school, family, relationships, hobbies, volunteering, and anything else.
Interoception needs
Interoception is one of those things that we don’t often think of as part of the sensory system, and yet it is. Interoception is the ability to pick up on your body’s internal cues. Think of things like noticing you are hungry, thirsty, or tired before they become overwhelming, or noticing you need to use the bathroom. Are you someone who struggles to identify these cues before they get extreme- for example, do you notice as you are starting to get hungry? Or do you only notice hunger when you have gotten to the point of STARVING? While occupational therapy can often be a huge help in addressing interoception needs, there are some accommodations you can make for yourself too. Some folks find it helpful to have specific times for meals, so they don’t have to think about if they are hungry or not. Some folks take bathroom breaks at regular, timed intervals so they don’t get to the point of “I’m on the verge of wetting my pants.”
Proprioception Needs
Last but not least is proprioceptive needs. Proprioception is another sensory system that isn’t part of the big 5, but equally important. It refers to the sensation of pressure, muscle engagement, and the awareness of where your body is in space. Thinking about pressure- are you someone who prefers light touch, or do you like deep pressure? Is it helpful for you to have something heavy (like a weighted blanket or weighted stuffed animal) when trying to focus or regulate yourself? Some folks find it soothing to their proprioceptive system to wear compression clothing; others find this to feel too constricting and prefer looser fitting clothing.
Muscle engagement is another part of the proprioceptive system that can get overlooked. We often talk about this as “heavy work,” which is almost exactly what it sounds like. Picking up heavy objects, whether that’s weights at the gym or bags of mulch in your backyard, is part of proprioceptive input. Are you someone whose body need that additional muscle engagement to feel regulated? Do you find it calming to do a hard workout? Try to find ways to fit these activities into your daily life; for some folks even doing a few pushups throughout the day, or carrying your small child around can help meet this need.
Awareness of where your body is in space is another area of proprioception. For some people, this can look like feeling incredibly regulated when hanging upside down or swinging. For others, these sensations can feel like they are completely out of control. Many autistic adults end up taking gymnastics classes, or yoga where they are doing different inversions, all to help meet their proprioceptive needs. Sometimes things like hanging out at the neighborhood playground on the swings can help (added bonus of getting to spend time with your kids if you have any).
While that brings this series to a close, keep in mind that this isn’t an exhaustive list of accommodations you (or the autistic person in your life) might need. We want to keep noticing our individual needs and working on ways to meet them. Sometimes this can come from more formal accommodations, like in a work or school setting, but sometimes it’s through how you are setting up your home, friendships, and relationships. And remember, needs can change over time!
If you are in the Charlotte area, or anywhere in North or South Carolina, and looking for support as an autistic adult, click here to schedule a free consult. Looking for an assessment to determine if you’re autistic and/or ADHD? You can schedule a free consult to learn more, or head over to my scheduling page for assessments and we can get that started! I’m always happy to help!
