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I'm genuinely curious and it wasn't addressed at all in the post - how did he make his first trip? Wasn't ALL of it novel the first time? Yet subsequent trips

I'm genuinely curious and it wasn't addressed at all in the post - how did he make his first trip? Wasn't ALL of it novel the first time? Yet subsequent trips ALL of it has to be same or his stress level goes up? I have a friend whose son is mildly autistic, and each new thing in his life has to be introduced in a specific way. For example, a new shirt will be brought into his room for several days for him to look at and touch. Once he's used to that he'll try it on, but he'll almost immediately take it off for the 'right' shirt that day. This can go on for several weeks, before he'll wear it in the house, but he still won't leave the house without putting on the 'right' shirt. He actually has a job, but it took almost six months from when he was hired until he would wear the full uniform for the job, because each piece of the uniform (and of course the job itself) had to be introduced in this fashion. My friend's son is only considered 'mildly' autistic. I simply can't image going through a major airport the first time with someone like this. Once the pattern is established, yes, it's a challenge to keep it going ... but what about the first time?

jsmeaton 13y ago
One of two reactions from my experiences. 1. You explain over a long period of time (weeks/months?) that you'll be travelling and what you'll be doing. The person is able to slowly come to terms with a change in routine before it happens. You set up a "new routine" for that particular day. Curiosity is engaged, and you have a relatively painless experience. 2. All of the above, but you do it really tough, with lots of screaming and distress. Once a routine is learnt, it's really difficult to break. But you can create new routines for different environments. Preparation is generally key.
astrodust 13y ago
For some people, once they've been introduced to something, it becomes burned in as the "correct" way of doing it, and any alteration to that procedure or arrangement will be a source of panic and confusion. There are some people who are stuck in a state where everything is new, they can't make memories. For some it's the opposite, they can't alter what they already know without a whole lot of friction.

jsmeaton 13y ago

One of two reactions from my experiences. 1. You explain over a long period of time (weeks/months?) that you'll be travelling and what you'll be doing. The person is able to slowly come to terms with a change in routine before it happens. You set up a "new routine" for that particular day. Curiosity is engaged, and you have a relatively painless experience. 2. All of the above, but you do it really tough, with lots of screaming and distress. Once a routine is learnt, it's really difficult to break. But you can create new routines for different environments. Preparation is generally key.

astrodust 13y ago

For some people, once they've been introduced to something, it becomes burned in as the "correct" way of doing it, and any alteration to that procedure or arrangement will be a source of panic and confusion. There are some people who are stuck in a state where everything is new, they can't make memories. For some it's the opposite, they can't alter what they already know without a whole lot of friction.