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Month: June 2019

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How to Overcome Sensory Issues While at The Dentist – by Dr. Greg Grillo

Great Teeth, Great Smile, Great Life. Kid At The Dental Office.

After 17 years of practice in North Central, Washington, nobody’s more familiar with dental anxiety than I am. For dental patients who have autism, especially children, this anxiety is compounded by challenging sensory elements such as bright lights and loud noises.

Dental care is an extremely important part of living a healthy life and living with autism shouldn’t prevent you or your child from getting the care they need. Fortunately, many dentists—including myself—are sympathetic to the needs of those who experience sensory overload. Here are a few things you can do to help overcome sensory issues while at the dentist:

Talk to your dentist

Before you schedule your first appointment, you should speak with the dental professional in question and ask them what accommodations they make for patients with sensory issues. If the answer is “none”, it’s time to find a new dentist.

However, most dental practitioners will be “on your side” and will want to make an autistic patient’s visit as comfortable as possible. Here are a few things a dentist might do to help avoid sensory overload:

  • Schedule a desensitization appointment (see next section)
  • Schedule the main appointment at a time that is less busy
  • Use the patient’s favorite toothpaste flavor—a taste sensation that they’re already comfortable with
  • Provide the patient with a soft blanket to use during the appointment
  • Provide the patient with sunglasses which can help with the bright lights
  • Provide the patient with headphones that will play soothing music or sounds during the appointment

If there is something specific which you know your autistic child needs to feel comfortable, tell your dentist about it and they should do whatever they can to accommodate that need.

Schedule the Desensitization Appointment

Desensitization appointments (sometimes known as “familiarization appointments”) are becoming a standard procedure in the growing field of special care dentistry and are one of the best things a dentist can do to make a patient with autism more comfortable. Despite the scary name, the idea is quite simple: a desensitization appointment is an appointment scheduled before the actual procedure in order to show the patient the operating theater and explain the function of every piece of equipment in the room. This is a great opportunity for your child to meet staff members and become familiar with the dentist office before any work is done on their teeth.

Practice at Home

If you have a child with autism, sensory calming strategies at home can be one of the most useful ways to make sure they’re comfortable with going to the dentist. You can do your own version of the “desensitization appointment” by showing your child pictures or videos of a dentist’s office, or by reading them storybooks about dental appointments. This can help your child become more familiar with the practitioner’s office and what goes on there before their actual appointment, which can help them feel more at ease and less likely to experience unpleasant sensory overload.

Some parents I’ve spoken to have also found that turning the dental visit into a role-playing game helps their child become more familiar with the unfamiliar concept. In this fun and interactive form of practice, you can play the dentist while your child takes on their actual role of the patient while you act out some of the basic steps of a dental appointment. This is a particularly good way to work through some of the physical aspects of their visit: have your child lie flat with their hands on their stomach and practice opening their mouth as wide as they can.

I understand that the dentist’s office can be an overwhelming and frightening place, but regular checkups are essential for any person’s physical health and happiness. As long as you find a dentist who is dedicated to making the visit as comfortable as possible—and I’m happy to say that I truly believe that’s the vast majority of practitioners—the appointment can become a great learning experience for both you and your child. I hope these tips will help you overcome any sensory issues you may experience so that all involved can have a positive experience the next time you visit the office.

 

Visit dentably.com to get in touch with Dr. Grillo.

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Areas of Advancement in Autism Services for Successful Adults

As autism prevalence increases and more children on the spectrum mature to adulthood, the need for services that help autistic adults lead independent and fulfilling lives is becoming an increasingly urgent concern. While many interventions help autistic kids and their families navigate the challenges of childhood and adolescence, there has been comparatively little progress made as it concerns long-term, sustainable outcomes for these individuals. As we continue to gain a deeper understanding of autism, it’s becoming an unavoidable reality that current treatment programs are not equipping kids with the critical skills they need to flourish in adulthood.

This leaves autistic adults and their families at a loss for how to plan the future. Compounding the issue, federal regulations aimed at promoting inclusion in communities for adults with disabilities have created restrictions around where individuals can live and with whom they can live, often making this process much more challenging than it needs to be.

While early intervention has improved and should continue to do so, it’s time that we, as an industry, consider how treatment should evolve to serve autistic individuals beyond high school graduation. I believe this issue is an emergent characteristic of a neurotypical outlook that presupposes the solutions needed are somehow fundamentally different for autistic and neurodiverse individuals. The reality is that as we grow into adulthood, we all—with very few exceptions—want the same things out of life: independence, security, self-determination, meaningful relationships, and dignified employment. 

So, how do we orient autism services to create these outcomes for autistic adults?

Emphasize higher education:

It’s true that education after high school might not be a fit or priority everyone, but for many individuals with autism, it is assumed that college is not an option. The opposite is true. With effective preparation and the right support system, autistic individuals can not only attend college but also find success. But, this preparation cannot be an afterthought of intervention. 

Think of your own experience in preparing for college. There were probably colleges you imagined attending while in middle school. By freshman year of high school, many of us were already planning class schedules and extracurriculars to make our transcripts more appealing to Deans of Admissions across the country. College visits were planned by the end of sophomore year. SAT prep by junior year. All capped off by the final application process. There is no reason autistic individuals with college aspirations shouldn’t follow a similar preparatory path. It’s on service providers to start early in mapping a path to college that is specific to the needs of the individual they are serving. 

First, it’s important for students and their families to recognize how high schools and colleges differ in their support for individuals on the spectrum. In high school, educators are generally more empowered to adopt changes and to deliver an individualized curriculum to help individual students learn and succeed. However, in college, the rules change.

Every U.S. college and university that accepts federal funding is required to provide “reasonable” support for students with disabilities. It’s the interpretation of the word “reasonable” that muddies the institutional support picture on college campuses. The support autistic individuals have access to in college will vary by institution, complicating the decision-making process. It’s important that families and providers know how to determine which schools will provide the support system the individual needs. A simple call to the college’s disabilities services department is a good start. Ideally, providers with an eye on the future like this would have this resource readily available. Unfortunately, we are not there yet.

Additionally, when a student goes off to college, self-advocacy becomes increasingly important. With a new degree of independence, students will be tasked with asking for the support they need. It’s something that many neurotypical individuals take for granted. We’re often vocal about our needs and have little trouble articulating what those needs are. The same isn’t always true for autistic individuals. 

There is sometimes a hesitancy to disclose a disability for fear of repercussions socially or from professors. Disclosure is a behavior that can be practiced and conditioned by service providers long before high school graduation is on the horizon. A student who arrives well prepared with a list of conditions that help him or her perform better (such as not switching lab partners on a weekly basis or the need to get up and walk out of the classroom to take a break) will be better positioned for a successful experience. 

There are many different programs and opportunities for young adults on the spectrum who are looking to keep learning. But like for all students, considering college, finding the right institutional fit, and preparing for a self-directed future needs to become accordingly and fully integrated into intervention. 

Employment

One essential aspect of leading an independent and fulfilling life is gainful employment. We’ve made progress on the hireability of autistic individuals and the contributions they are able to make in the workplace. Many major companies like Microsoft, Ford, and Ernst & Young have recognized the unique and impactful skills autistic individuals can add to their business. 

The unfortunate thing is, these kinds of opportunities are few and far between for many autistic adults. The prevailing (and harmful) perception among the public regarding autistic individuals in the world of work is rooted in the savant trope perpetuated by popular media—think the show The Good Doctor, starring Freddie Highmore as the autistic and brilliant surgical resident Sean Murphy. 

This is not to say those people don’t exist or that they themselves are stifling real progress, but the idea that only the most extreme outliers on the spectrum are employable only applies to autistic individuals. “Genius” is rarely—if ever—a qualifier for neurotypical individuals seeking gainful employment. And it’s this disparity in perception that underlines the yawning gap in unemployment levels among autistic individuals relative to the national average. The national unemployment rate sits around 4.5% on a rolling basis. That rate skyrockets north of 80% for adults with autism. 

The work that needs to be done to shift this perception is a far more broad and complicated discussion. Yet, we can exclude this harmful trope from intervention programs by doing more than just managing behaviors. Caregivers should treat every autistic individual as though gainful employment will be a part of their future. Those jobs can range from programming wizard with Microsoft to more modest, everyday jobs that still need to be done. There is dignity in work. Full stop. 

That said, much like college considerations, it’s important to identify, control, and amplify the skills the individual possesses before charting a course to the future. Does the child like patterns and routines? Are they particularly good with computers? Do they have a knack for organization? Perhaps they are artistically inclined. If caregivers, providers, and even the children themselves can identify these preferences and passions early on, they can work to identify potential career paths and hone the requisite skills. Starting these conversations in middle school, long before the job hunt, and practicing with volunteer jobs and mentoring can lead to much better results!

Pairing a person with a job based on skill set and preference will lead to more long-term fulfillment and better retention. This is an area where we, as an industry, can improve. Additionally, raising more awareness in companies to promote neurodiversity is also important. We’re seeing progress, but we need more businesses than giant corporations who can afford to take the “risk” on neurodiversity to get involved in the solution. Small- to medium-sized businesses need to embrace neurodiversity. For our part, we can get a headstart on preparing autistic individuals with the necessary tools to be appealing candidates for any career they are able to pursue. 

Independent Living

Independent living can start when a young adult goes to college and made more vital when one starts to work. But, no one inherently possesses the skills to succeed on their own. For neurotypical individuals, these routines, habits, skills, abilities, and coping mechanisms are accrued through a lifetime of teaching and preparation. 

Some of the foundational behaviors like hygiene, communication, and self-care are already core curricula of treatment. A friend of mine, Mari-Anne Kehler, talks about “citizenship”—teaching our kids from a young age to do for themselves, to participate in family routines, and to contribute to our society. Reinforcing this concept of citizenship is a critical next step for truly independent living. All parents have a tendency to do things for their child because it’s often quicker and easier in the context of a busy, complicated life. But, in the long run, dedicating the time and patience to help the child become as independent as possible at a young age will create a better long-term, self-directed future.

The other key component of independent living is access to housing, which is often a tragic challenge for autistic adults. Research at Drexel University in Philadelphia has found that nearly half of all adults on the autism spectrum live at home, and only 10% live independently. It does not need to and should not be this way. Depending on the needs of adults on the spectrum, there are homes and communities where autistic individuals can live while getting the support they need to thrive, like First Place in Phoenix. 

Still, while more and more supportive housing communities are popping up across the country, housing remains an area that needs significant investment and improvement. Parents should not be solely responsible for creating and developing these housing options for their children. It’s to the benefit of society at large that all of us assist in creating inclusive communities that can provide support and independence for autistic adults.

Investor Involvement

The autism services industry is growing. As needed advancements are being made to help individuals prepare for higher education and employment, the industry needs savvy, smart, and socially conscious investors to get involved. Not only can you make positive financial returns, but you can also make a positive difference in the lives of adults with autism and their families. 

Want to learn more? Check out my book, Autism Matters, and learn how you can get involved.

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What Can We Do to Address Unemployment in the Autistic Community

Over the next decade, an estimated 500,000 teenagers with autism will enter adulthood, and potentially, the workforce. Many of these young adults will begin the job hunt, hoping to find work that can help them establish independence and gain more independence and personal fulfillment. But, unemployment remains a significant problem. 

Unfortunately, as things stand now, more than half of young adults with autism are unemployed or unenrolled in higher education. Of autistic adults who graduated from college, 85% are unemployed. Comparatively, the national unemployment rate is 3.7%.

Furthermore, though nearly 18,000 individuals with autism use state-funded vocational rehabilitation (VR) programs, in 2014 only 60% left the program with a job. Of that group, 80% worked only part-time for a median weekly rate of $160.00.

Clearly, there is room for improvement. So, what needs done? 

For Employers:

There are many great companies that have inclusive programs supporting a neurodiverse workforce, like SAP, Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, Ford, and Ernest & Young. Other companies actively recruit individuals who are on the autism spectrum, recognizing the unique talents and skillsets they can bring to the table. Right now, there are over 50 companies that rely on the work of employees who are on the spectrum. I wrote about one of these companies, Rising Tide Car Wash, in a previous blog post about supporting neurodiversity in the workplace.

These companies are setting a great example, but they are still the exception when it comes to inclusion for autistic individuals. 

Here are a few areas of focus that can move these hiring and retention practices for autistic individuals from exception to the norm:

  • Recontextualize your interview process. For many individuals with autism, the interpersonal experience of an interview can be difficult. A traditional interview process, involving direct conversation, maintaining eye contact and reading social cues will be more challenging for most individuals on the spectrum. Therefore, many of these unspoken qualifiers like maintaining eye contact should be considered differently when weighing the fit for the job. In addition, it may be more difficult for autistic individuals to easily and clearly articulate what they know and what they can do for the company. Instead, give them an opportunity to show you what they are capable of and be patient. As the employer, approaching these interviews creatively, with an understanding of the individual is one of the most inclusive things you can do. 
  • Beware of sensory overload. Loud, open office spaces might not be the ideal working environment for autistic individuals who experience sensory overload. When bringing on a new team member, make sure you’ve already discussed this potential issue. If it’s a problem for that individual, be ready with solutions. Designate a quiet place in the office where that person can go to work in peace or provide noise-canceling headphones. Provide accommodations such as noise-canceling headphones or adjustment in the lighting to ease overstimulation.  And communicate with other team members exactly what’s going on and why so that there is no resentment or misunderstanding.
  • Focus on retention. It may be easy for leadership and team members to misinterpret certain behavioral traits of an autistic individual. It’s important that these misunderstandings don’t result in termination, as often times the person will mean no offense by their words or actions. Being aware of what’s really going on, and then communicating deliberately to course-correct and hopefully prevent later incidents should be the first consideration for employers who are serious about autistic inclusivity.

There are certainly a host of other issues to consider when implementing a more neurodiverse plan at work, and if you have further questions, an expert consultant could provide more insight. 

In the Autism Services Industry:

The autism services industry does a lot of good work helping children learn important skills. But an area for advancement is giving teenagers the skills they need to be successful in jobs.

Here are a few places to start:

  • Identifying strengths and job matching. Essentially it comes down to the fact that employees are more likely to have success in their job if their skill set lines up with the requirements. Finding that fit starts with identifying the individual’s strengths and passions, and what skills make them standout candidates. For example, some individuals with autism thrive when executing tasks that require repetition and routines, making them strong candidates for assembly line, data entry, or other computer work. The range of skills autistic individuals can possess is as varied as the individuals themselves. Providers should be sure to involve them in the process of career pathing and job matching. The better we get at identifying talents and skills and matching them with an appropriate position, the closer we’ll be to solving the problem of workplace inclusivity. 
  • Expanding coverage and access to services based on region. Services often vary across state boundaries. For example, Alabama saw 79% of individuals with autism find a job after vocational rehabilitation (VR), compared to 29% in New Mexico. Addressing these gaps and working together to create uniform VR protocols will help increase the number of autistic individuals placed in jobs that are strong fits for their skill sets. With the help of activist providers and investors, this change could be within reach and hugely impactful.

Finding, securing, and holding a job can bring a new sense of independence and fulfillment to the lives of autistic adults. If employers engage with inclusivity in good faith and providers are able to prepare autistic individuals with the skills they need to succeed, solving the problem for underserved autistic adults could be closer than we think, even if we still have a long way to go. 

Looking for more ideas? Check out my book, Autism Matters.