In the world, when life presents disabilities or disorders, they often should be interpreted as potential factors to induce a change. These throbbing factors could be turned into paths that can take us closer to our path-breaking goals. There is a lot to learn from such instances that have a huge scope and a promising future. This acceptance can lead us to create a dynamic change which can affect lives for the better. It confers insights we could never have imagined if we had not been an important part on this path. Even having this kind of gift of autism offers us a secure environment in ways that cannot be explained. Whenever I have faced any discomfort, I have tuned into it to harness it not just into an opportunity but turned it into an offer of resilience, patience and unconditional compassion.
As I let myself immerse into the facts concerning autism, experience its spirit and follow it's rhythm, I can declare an official statement that "Every individual- regardless of him being a person having a need for special needs or additional care- witnessing him operating on his own according to an innate system he has been made in, can help us analyze his life intricately." In my opinion, autism can bring rewarding experiences to the forefront if we begin to understand and appreciate the origins of an autistic mind.
To cite an illustration, imagine a person-let's term him as A- whose whole body is monitored and controlled by his inner self, Lexter A. Lexter A is actively present in A's mind. Lexter A plans the complete routine of A's communication and contemplation. When A has made up his mind to speak, Lexter A illuminates "glowing orbs" of expression that traverse outside; unfortunately he cannot comprehend their reception- whether it was received well, upset someone, has amused or confused the listener.
Following this act, when external "glowing orbs" of single sentences are directed towards A, Lexter A is not successful in always decoding their intention. Some orbs crash into him, some merely land close by and the resulting confusion can leave Lexter A in a state of fix. This metaphor summarizes why autism often gets categorized as a communication challenge and suffers along the way while integrating towards making genuine connections.
Activity description: Channeling your energy to understand life with autism. Using an approach of perspective-taking to enhance our interaction with the individuals who are on the autism spectrum.
As neurotypical individuals who have cognitive flexibility, empathy and compassion, it is our duty to invest in an understanding that breaks barriers of communication. We must put in a conscious effort to feel the obstacles faced by a person with autism. Such behaviour will open doors to greater acceptance of neurodivergent individuals and make enough room for them.
I have designed an interactive activity to live more fully and deepen our understanding of autism.
This activity includes chapters that focus on the emotional and sensory experiences of someone on the autism spectrum. It is designed to help understand communication barriers faced by neurodivergent individuals. There will be a person chosen for this activity who will be enacting the role of someone on the spectrum. For the other participants in the activity, connecting and emoting comes naturally —it’s with this ability that they will play their roles in this organized activity. The props used in this activity includes a basket of balls, each representing a sentence of communication. These balls are a key part of an imaginative concept, designed to capture every step of communication for the purpose of research.
The Setup: A normal-sized cardboard door panel is placed between two groups. This door has double cut-outs: a narrow slit at eye level and a round opening at mouth level. Behind this door stands a selected volunteer, embodying and imitating the life of a person with autism. In her hands she is carrying the basket containing soft plastic balls.
She begins to pick up the balls one by one and throw them out through the mouth opening. However, due to her limited viewpoint, she cannot observe where they land once they reach the other side of the panel. She does not realize whether the balls are hurting someone, making someone angry, amusing them, or simply causing a state of confusion—thus mirroring the social disconnect as well as uncertainty often seen in autistic individuals. Like Lexter A (the referenced character), she cannot precisely interpret the consequences of her actions or how others respond to her communication.
The Turnaround: Now, the individuals on the opposite side begin to throw balls at her. Some hit the cardboard, some graze her face, others land and bounce unpredictably around her. She begins to feel overwhelmed and confusion sets in, thick and fast. There’s too much happening at once—too many messages flying at her, too many sensations involved, too many inputs her mind is still trying to process. This moment demands intense focus and sharp organizational skills. It proves to be a challenge to her.
This phase illustrates a sensory overload—an everyday challenge faced by many autistic individuals who experience communication barriers. This is where over-stimulation can lead to confusion, discomfort, or emotional distress. The volunteer may naturally begin to flinch or withdraw from the conversation as a result.
Reflection: This profound and captivating activity is a useful eye-opener and a powerful tool of what the world might be like for someone who is facing such neurodivergent challenges. It plays a vital role in prioritizing inclusivity as the top preference— acknowledging that what may seem simple, or harmless to us can be overwhelming to someone else.
By participating in this, we are not just learning about the mentality; we are feeling, and hopefully, one day we will treasure this experience and start growing in our empathy.
When explaining about people truly blessed with autism, it is important to note that while talking to them, it is best to convey the message with direct and simple instructions. This helps to avoid misinterpretation. Your sentences said should not contain an ambiguous meaning because that can lead to confusion. Also there might be a need for the neurodivergent individual to view the objects at the same time which might be referred to in the instructions. Therefore two key points here are to possess a straightforward language and for him to see the object you are referring to becomes of utter importance.
It is of prime importance that we understand the communication barriers in a person with autism do not arise from a lack of care or ability. These challenges do not stem from unwillingness but from processing the communication in a different way. To tag someone due to this delay in a discriminating or harsh way, is always not acceptable and is never advised to practice. We must always try to love more, hurt less, adjust more and learn more. Understanding the vital role of psychology behind this, will help us to be more empathetic towards the neurodivergent individuals.
About Author - Sharlet Mary Alvares is an artistic and therapeutic director of Sharlet’s English Tutorials. She is a seasoned teacher who has taught creative writing and public speaking to countless students in this field. With achieving over seven years of work experience, Sharlet has learned to combine teaching with empathy. She understands the mental states with the use of metaphors because it gives life to that part, and doesn’t just make it seem like a mere diagnosis. Love more, hurt less, adjust more and learn more is her motto.