This module is about creating and adapting mission plans for fears that are related to autism, specifically when anxiety is related to sensory sensitivities or difficulties with changing routine. Like we have discussed earlier on in LUNA, there is often overlap between these autism characteristics and anxiety. While you learned that it is important to select targets that are rooted in anxiety for mission plans, when they are related to the core characteristics of autism, there are some things to think about when making mission plans.
In this module, we will discuss mission plans that target anxiety related to sensory sensitivities and changes in expected routine for autistic children. If this topic does not apply to your family, you can move on to a different module.
Things to Consider When Working on Anxiety with Autism Components
Sensory sensitivities are a frequent component of anxiety for autistic kids. For example, think about Sally’s fear of public restrooms. While part of it is related to a fear of germs, there is also the sensory component of unpredictable loud noises (like loud automated toilets and hand driers). Overcoming this fear would require a mission plan addressing both areas, even though one appears to be more related to sensory sensitivity.
Another common behavior that may be both rooted in anxiety and related to autism is insistence on sameness and wanting to stick to routines. For example, think about Neil’s fear of change. While this is common for kids with generalized anxiety, it is also a core feature of autism. Overcoming this anxiety would require a mission plan that takes this into consideration.
We want to emphasize that there is no need or expectation for you to address these areas that are more closely related to autism. For example, having a consistent, predictable routine in the morning can be a helpful way for autistic kids and kids without autism to prepare for the day and regulate their emotions. When an insistence on this routine causes problems for you or your child, however, it may be an area to focus on during mission plans. For example, if a morning routine is taking such a long time that you or your child are always late to school or work, or you cannot visit family on the weekend because this would involve a different morning routine, it may be helpful to begin incorporating this challenge into mission plans so your child can be more flexible when they need to be.
If you do decide to address sensory sensitivities or insistence on sameness in LUNA, mission plans for these issues can be tricky, so we wanted you to start with targets that were a little more straightforward. Now that you have been practicing one or more mission plans with those initial targets, let’s talk about how to tackle mission plans that have (or are suspected of having) a component that is also related to the core characteristics of autism.
