Benefits of Recreation Therapy for Individuals with Autism

Recreation Therapy is an intervention that employs recreation and leisure activities to enhance cognitive, physical, social, and emotional wellbeing in both adults and children. It incorporates the principles of learning through play and tailors specific interventions to help individuals achieve set goals in a medical context.

This essay will focus on individuals with autism and how they can benefit from recreation therapy interventions. Autism is a spectrum disorder, meaning symptoms can vary in severity.

Symptoms of Autism may include:

Challenges with communication. This can range from being completely non-verbal to having difficulty expressing emotions or engaging in conversations. Individuals with autism may struggle with eye contact and other social norms related to body language. They may also lack empathy and find it challenging to understand social cues from others.

Sensory fixations or aversions. Individuals with autism might engage in repetitive movements or actions that are self-soothing. They may become fixated on objects or specific sensory inputs and find it difficult to interact with others. Overstimulation from sensory input in their environment can make it hard for them to function within social norms.

The need for a set routine. Individuals with autism often require a consistent routine to feel comfortable. Transitioning between activities or events can be difficult, and they may need time to prepare for these transitions.

Obsessions and interests. Someone with autism might have highly focused interests. For example, in the Netflix series “Atypical,” the teen with autism is obsessed with penguins. These special interests are particularly beneficial in Recreation Therapy Interventions.

Recreation Therapy Interventions:

When setting goals and interventions, it is crucial to gather various interests and triggers from the family and/or other healthcare providers to ensure the individual's success. It is important to incorporate the interest into the intervention itself or use it as a reward for trying a new task or activity.

All goals and interventions should be adapted to the individual's functioning level and interests. There are numerous games and activities that can be modified to promote improved social skills, communication, impulse control, motor skills, self-esteem, and activities of daily living. Developing these skills further enhances independence and quality of life.

For more information, please visit http://therapeuticconceptsllc.com. Consultations are always free.