OPINION: Autism and COVID-19

Autism is a neurological disability that affects millions of families each year. By definition, autism is “Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication.” (https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism) For every child that is diagnosed with autism, their entire social life is thrown into question.

“Will my child ever make friends?”

“Will they be able to meet someone special?”

“ Will they be able to hold a steady job?”

Questions like these are all too common for parents of a kid on the autism spectrum. Because of COVID-19, there are quarantine measures in effect to prevent people from infecting themselves and each other from the virus. Because of this, the newest question has become:

“How will my child deal with this new change?”

The reason why the current social distancing requirements in the United States hinder their growth as human beings. Autistic people are very dependent on their day-to-day routines. An example would be a high school freshman—let’s call him Sam--who wakes up each weekday morning and promptly waits for his school bus at 7:30 on the dot. Then, for lunch Sam has a sack lunch that’s catered to his specific tastes. After school, Sam’s mom picks him up at 3:00 from school on the way home from work.

Now that quarantine and social distancing are in effect, school is currently out and moving towards virtual classrooms. For Sam, this would be difficult for him because now that school is out and his mom is working from home, Sam has to try to create new routines so he can cope with the social distancing. Also, the fact that Sam’s unable to see any friends he might have will be detrimental to his social skills.

A trait in those with autism is that they struggle with anxiety. That, coupled with small changes to their routines, can lead to a great deal of stress. Not only does social distancing affect their social skills, but also affects services that help them grow, like therapists and access to medication. Although therapists and psychologists are moving to virtual appointment meetings, this affects autistic patients as those visits help them remain grounded and not as prone to have meltdowns. Because of everything closing due to being “nonessential”, many on the spectrum are struggling to deal with anxiety and stimulus with little to no resources.

If you know anyone who knows someone who is struggling with their autism—friend, cousin, etc.—be open to helping them out. Younger children on the spectrum require a lot of attention for them to grow and become more comfortable with their surroundings.

Works Cited

• “'Flattening the Curve' May Pose Tough Challenge for Autistic People.” Spectrum, 6 Aug. 2020, www.spectrumnews.org/news/flattening-the-curve-may-pose-tough-challenge-for-autistic-people/.

Writer: Stuart Codd