One of the most anticipated celebrations for Brazilians, Carnival officially began in Natal on Thursday, February 8th. During the festivities, it is common to see street parties, drums and visual and sensory stimuli that can be processed with greater difficulty by children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This, however, does not mean that this population should be excluded from the celebrations: there are a series of actions that can be taken by family, friends and society in general to ensure an inclusive celebration.
According to the Occupational Therapist Preceptor at the Santos Dumont Institute (ISD), Jardany Barros, the first strategy that can be adopted by the family is to prepare for the celebration in advance. “These people often have a pattern of behavioral rigidity, making events that are outside of their routine challenging and stressful,” explains the occupational therapist.
“Providing people with a prior understanding of what will happen during a given period is crucial. The use of visual strategies, such as images that symbolically represent that period, visual calendars and social stories, can be effective,” she advises. She also emphasizes the importance of adopting simple language, integrated with visual methods, to ensure effective communication.
Furthermore, it is recommended that families look for places that also offer reserved spaces, which allow the child to leave the busiest environment if necessary. “Avoiding sources of aversive stimuli, such as fireworks or loud noises, helps to minimize potential triggers for crises. Respecting the child's sensory preferences is essential, whether in relation to clothing, food textures or the provision of sensory accommodation devices, such as ear muffs or sunglasses, according to individual needs,” he highlights.
Reception
All of these strategies, however, do not guarantee that a sensory crisis cannot occur. Therefore, it is important that caregivers of autistic people are attentive to verbal and nonverbal signs that may indicate discomfort. In these cases, the occupational therapist emphasizes that it is important to respect the individual's tolerance and limits, redirecting them to a calmer space with less sensory stimuli.
“The essential starting point is respect and understanding. Recognizing that the way an autistic child seeks fun can differ considerably from the conventional,” says Jardany Barros.
She also highlights that these people may move in a unique way, making different sounds, especially in childhood, and approaching people more directly, occasionally repeating words or phrases more insistently. “Understanding that these expressions represent their way of relating to the world is the foundation for fostering understanding and reducing judgmental looks and unpleasant comments that impact social participation. It is essential to be aware of the individual needs of the autistic person. Respect their choices regarding participation in festive events and how they wish to participate,” she adds.
ABOUT ISD
The Santos Dumont Institute is a Social Organization linked to the Ministry of Education (MEC) and includes the Edmond and Lily Safra International Neuroscience Institute and the Anita Garibaldi Health Education and Research Center, both in Macaíba. ISD's mission is to promote education for life, forming citizens through integrated teaching, research and extension actions, in addition to contributing to a fairer and more humane transformation of Brazilian social reality.
