Routines and rituals in autistic people

What are routines and rituals?

People with autism place great importance on routines and rituals. Knowing what will happen and how it will happen is reassuring for them, helping them experience less uncertainty. However, in some situations, routines and rituals become so central that they can be detrimental to both the person with autism and those around them.

Routines and rituals are an important part of the lives of most autistic people. They serve a purpose.

• Predict what will happen
• Reduce anxiety
• Structuring the day
• Reduce uncertainty
• To provide a sense of security
• To reassure

All sorts of spheres of daily life can be affected by routines and rituals.

• Meal time
• Hygiene
• Departure for work or school
• A way to classify one's possessions

Sometimes, rituals are more complex, take up more space and require more time.

• Perform exactly the same series of actions in the same order without deviating from it.
• To follow the precise sequence of a game or activity

While routines and rituals can be very helpful and promote stability in the life of an autistic person, if taken to extremes, they can hinder the individual's development and cause harm to both the individual and those around them. It is important to incorporate elements of the unexpected into the routine so that, even if the structure usually remains the same, it is possible to adapt to changes when necessary.

The pictograms

Pictograms are small images placed side by side to indicate what the day will unfold. One such image is a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark inside. Some call it the "life-saving triangle." This triangle signals to an autistic person that their predictive timeline has been temporarily disrupted, that they are experiencing an unexpected event. The person can then understand that when the triangle is removed, things will return to normal. Not all autistic people use pictograms, but the element of rarity and the fact that the unexpected event is temporary can help them cope with it more effectively.

Unexpected events

Unexpected events can happen. Many autistic adults prepare for them by planning as many worst-case scenarios as possible, so they can react more effectively if the situation arises. However, an autistic person who constantly experiences a large number of unexpected events may see their mental state and abilities deteriorate, as this can lead to significant psychological distress.

The compromises

Compromises can sometimes disrupt routine. It's important to take your time and avoid demanding rapid change from an autistic person, except in cases of genuine necessity. A "no" can become a "maybe" and eventually a "yes" if the person can gradually assimilate the information related to the change.

Balance

The key word here is balance. Yes, in autism, routines and rituals should be prioritized; we know their beneficial effects on the sense of security, but we must maintain a small degree of flexibility so as not to preclude any possibility of change or adjustment. It is therefore important to respect routines and rituals in autism, as long as they do not endanger the individual or those around them.

Respect

Routines and rituals are not a one-size-fits-all solution for autistic people. Those close to autistic individuals must absolutely take their individual needs into account. By working together, autistic people and their loved ones can approach routines and rituals in a way that respects everyone's needs.