Improving Quality of Life for Autistic Children

The lives of autistic people can become very medicalized – doctors and parents can spend a lot of time and effort finding the right doctors for an autistic child, making sure they are on the right medications, and making sure they have the right accommodations at school.  Staying healthy can be hard work, but autistic people also deserve to have some fun!  In this section, we list things that can make autistic people more comfortable and places that take steps to accommodate people with sensory processing issues (which are common in autistic people).

Clothing

Autistic people can have sensitivities to certain types of clothing.  The most common clothing sensitivities are scratchy seams or tags, rough fabrics, and clothing that feels too tight or too loose.  Autistic people may find these types of clothing to be uncomfortable and they could even cause sensory overload.  Because of these sensitivities, your child might undress frequently or react emotionally.   Below are some clothing brands that offer adaptive clothing options (clothing with flat seams and no tags) that were created with people who have sensory processing issues in mind.

Cat & Jack Clothing: Cat & Jack offers adaptive kids clothing options and is available at Target.

Smart Knit Kids – Seamless socks and undergarments that may be more comfortable for those with sensory sensitivities.

Kozie Clothes – Medical, compression, and weighted clothing for children.

Fun and Function – Sensory Clothing, can filter by diagnosis, age, and condition the clothing helps.

Target has a line of sensory-friendly clothing with flat seams and no tags, you can find it here.

Kohls has a line of adaptive clothing, you can find it here.

Zappos, which is an online clothing and shoe retailer, has curated an archive of different adaptive brands, you can shop for adaptive brands here.

Primary is a company founded by two moms based in New York that offer comfortable clothing without logos for all ages, you can browse the collections here.

Does your child have a hard time getting dressed?  Would you like to know more about sensory issues and clothing?  Please read: What Should You Do About Sensory Issues with Clothing?

Toys and Sensory Items

Autistic kids sometimes have trouble staying focused in school.  The companies below sell toys and sensory aids that can help!

Tools for School! – Sensory Kids Guide

nationalautismresources.com

Sensory Goods: Autism Sensory Products | Autism Tools & Equipment

Therapro – Aids for daily living

GPS devices can help track the location of kids with autism who are likely to elope or who are nonverbal and cannot ask for help when lost.

• Jiobit: More than a GPS Tracker for Kids
• AngelSense: GPS Tracker for Kids: Angel Sense also has a blog for parents of autistic children and a newsletter which gives advice concerning tips, resources, and financial assistance.

Activities

Below, we listed events that benefit autistic people and/or make accommodations for people with sensory processing issues.

GA Race for Autism: The Georgia Race for Autism is a USATF certified and Peachtree Road Race qualifying 5K and 10K race. There will also be a 1 Mile Fun Run, 100-yard Dash, and Tot Trot on the same day. Fun for the whole family with a Fall Festival and plenty of vendor and resource tables.

Six Flags: Six Flags offers low sensory zones for families with autistic/special need children and has been designated a Certified Autism Center.  Families and caregivers can request accommodations and obtain an individual accessibility card through the attraction accessibility website.

Chuck E Cheese: On the first Sunday of every month participating locations support families and kids with ASD and other special needs in creating a time where their children can enjoy being a kid.  These locations will open two hours earlier during those days and offer a less crowded environment, dim lighting and lower music, limited appearances by Chuck E and no admission fee.

Some grocery stores support “sensory sensitive shopping”

• Some Target stores offer “quiet hours” from 6am to 8am on Saturdays for sensory sensitive shopping.
• Target also offers sensory friendly & adaptive kids’ home decor & furniture
• Many stores are now offering ordering online and picking up at the store or same day delivery.

Camps

Please see our “Summer Camps for Autistic People” list!

Article by: The Autism ToolKit