Between Spectrums

How to Approach The Autistic.

Those who read the last post about being friends with the autistic people, you're probably wondering how can I be friends with an autistic person? How do I engage conversation with them? How can we avoid the awkwardness? What are his/her interests? These questions and more have an answer to them. Here are a few steps to help you as you befriend an autistic person.

Step One: Walk the walk/Talk the talk. It may seem intimidating to approach someone to talk to them or being approached by someone. Some can be really sociable and walk up to you to chat. Like other people, they ask the get-to-know-you questions so they can see what interests you have and see if they can relate to them. If either of stopped talking and leads to a awkward silence, it usually means that they're trying to come up with something to ask or talk about and it does take a short amount of time in doing so. So you could either be patience and wait or, to avoid the silence you can ask a question or two. Some are too shy or very introverted to get out of their way to talk to people. So you'll be the one who does the approaching to say hi and if they say hi back, you can start the conversation. If the don't respond don't take it personally. It could be that they don't talk as much, they prefer to talk to people they know, or they just want to be alone. In any case you can have say that you tried or keep trying till you make a new friend.

Step Two: Be genially interested. As they're talking, you as a considerate person should show that you're interested in what they say. Even if it's something that you're not familiar with. True some autistic people can't pick up the social cues that indicate that your bored or not wanting to be here. But there are those who do and they stop talking about they're hobbies or interested and find things that interest you. If you want to be a friend you have to show that you get to know them. And how can you do so if you're not interested in their lives?  

Step Three: Extend the invitation. If you want to continue on getting to know them, you can invite them to parties, hikes, movie nights, games, activities, church, etc. Not only does it help you and them, but it can help your other friends as they get to know the autistic person you're befriending. Some may have similar interest and some may also have a friend/relative who is autistic. When part of a group, autistic people feel accepted. So when your with friends be sure to include them in the conversation.

Step Four: Keep contact. In the 2010's, we may not have flying cars or hover boards but we do have the capabilities to keep in contact with many people in our lives. Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, Tumbler, Gmail, Email, iPhones, etc. You can exchange info if the autistic so you can still be a friend when they one most. Friendships can last as long as you're in contact with them.

Step Five: Make it last long. What or how ever you do it. It's important to keep your friendship so that it can last long. Cause you might be the only friend he/she has. Friends are hard to come by for them cause some feel that they're too weird or awkward to have friends. So it's up to you both to make sure that your friendship lasts as long as it takes.

I hope these steps help you out and you can make your steps in befriending the autistic. Good luck and hope it goes well.

Thank you for your time

Tay Gallagher