Outing Ideas for Autistic People

Back to Resources

Outing Ideas for Autistic People

Autistic individuals often thrive off routine and predictability and prefer to stay in familiar environments. However, it is important for autistic people and their family members to seek out a variety of environments so that they can gain exposure to different sensory experiences. Frequent outings build adaptability and encourages lifelong engagement within the community.

Why are frequent outings important?

Frequent outings, especially beginning in childhood, are extremely important because they help autistic people get used to being in a lot of different situations. Staying home a lot can limit autistic peoples’ opportunities to practice social skills and can lead to more social isolation throughout their life.

When thinking about long term happiness, children who are exposed to a variety of environments and social situations can better thrive in new settings as adults. For example, they are better equipped to have meaningful relationships, hold a job, live independently, and engage in recreational and community activities. Studies show participating in social and recreational activities can lower levels of perceived stress, improve networks of social support, and serve as an important coping mechanism.

Ideas:

Many venues now offer sensory days, times, or specific sensory events to create a more comfortable experience for those with sensory needs. For example, Walmart has sensory friendly hours from 8am-10am where there are typically fewer shoppers, lights are dimmed, music is lowered, and televisions are turned off. AMC movie theaters offer sensory-friendly showings every 2nd and 4th Saturday with lowered volume and lighting. You may also try looking for “off times” for local activities like museums, zoos, and shopping centers. There are also several summer camps throughout Georgia that are specific to autistic children or children with disabilities.

Helpful links:

Public Library

Your local public library can be an excellent and free resource for families. They often host several family friendly events such as sensory play times, story times, music classes, and age-appropriate activities. Find your local library here https://georgialibraries.org/find-a-library/, then navigate to the website and select the events tab to find local events at your library branch.

Specific Interests

Play to your child’s interests and see if there are any specific interest-based activities in your local area. For example, if your child has a specific interest in trains, look for parks with a view of trains, find a shopping mall with train rides, or a local railway museum (in Georgia, there are railway museums in Savannah, Duluth, and Kennesaw).

Outdoor Activities

Spending time outdoors is a great way to provide sensory regulation. Local parks and playground offer an opportunity to work on motor skills and social interaction. Nature walks and identifying the five senses can be especially helpful and reduce stress. Many families enjoy a picnic in the park or going to local splashpads in the summer.  You may try searching “playgrounds or splashpads near me”.

Autism Friendly Events

Many communities now offer many autism or sensory friendly specific events. You can look for autism support groups or play groups, sensory friendly events at local venues, or autism sports and recreational teams.

See https://www.autismtoolkit.org/events/ for autism-friendly events in your area for a starting point.

Tips and Tricks

  • Communicate early and clearly about where you are going and what the day will look like
  • Bring another adult to help in case of eloping or meltdowns
  • Pack sensory tools such as headphones for loud environments like stadiums, concerts, or fireworks
  • Bring fidgets or small toys to improve concentration and sensory input
  • Pack familiar snacks and safe foods
  • Identify a quiet space beforehand to calm down if needed

Celebrate Success

Going out in the community can be a challenge for autistic people and caregivers alike. It is important to celebrate success and remember that practice makes progress. Rewarding and praising positive behaviors can help reinforce appropriate behavior and acknowledge your child’s successes.

 

Article by: Isabella Valentini and the Autism Toolkit

 

National Libraries of Medicine Sources:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3795788/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5588899/

 

Sources:

https://www.marcus.org/autism-resources/autism-tips-and-resources/safety-tips-for-community-activities

https://www.autismspeaks.org/activities-kids-autism

https://www.marcus.org/autism-resources/autism-tips-and-resources/how-to-use-nature-to-nuture-your-child

 

 

 

Back to Resources

Other resources you may be interested in

Please enjoy our articles and contact us if there’s a topic you would like more information about.