Starting a New Year: Goals and Strategies for Families Living with Autism

New Year’s resolutions are a motivating starting point for most of us. At the beginning of each year, we set new goals to make that year more productive and meaningful. However, this process can present both great opportunities and some difficulties for families living with autism. Stepping into a new year is a great opportunity to learn from the past year's experiences, set stronger goals, strengthen family bonds and contribute to individual development.

When determining your New Year's resolutions, taking small but effective steps and going through this process with love, patience and solidarity is important. Let's determine strategies that will help you not only achieve your goals this year but also enjoy the process. In this article, we share motivating and applicable goals and strategies that will make life easier for families of individuals with autism.

Realistic and Measurable Goals

One of the most important ways to increase success in the new year is to set realistic and measurable goals. Large and complex goals may seem exciting at first; however, these can often lead to a loss of motivation and feelings of failure. Instead, setting small, concrete, and achievable goals offers a more sustainable approach for both individuals with autism and their families.

When determining these goals, it is very important to consider the interests and developmental levels of the individual with autism. So, what can be done as examples of such goals? Here are some suggestions:

• Goals on Social Skills

- Create a concrete plan: If you aim to improve the social skills of the individual with autism, you can set specific and measurable goals such as "organizing a playing or meeting event with a friend every month."

- Plan enjoyable activities: You can organize activities appropriate to the age and interests of the individual, such as playing games, going to the movies or going for a walk. These types of events provide a great opportunity for them to practice social interaction.

• Goals for Daily Living Skills

• Practice shopping: You can organise weekly or monthly shopping times together to help prepare the individual with autism to go to shopping independently. In this process, benefiting from social stories and visual supports is also a great idea. For example, the Shopping Social Story in our “WHY” book series can provide guidance on this topic.
• Strengthening Communication within the Family

- Organise family meetings: Communication within the family plays a big role in the development of the individual with autism and the harmony of the whole family. Holding weekly family meetings can create a fun and friendly environment where everyone can contribute.

- Plan joint activities: In these meetings, you can organise games or activities that can be played as a family, taking into account the interests of the person with autism. In this way, communication and bonds are strengthened.

Focus on Daily Routines

Daily routines are an important element that makes individuals with autism feel safer and more comfortable. They feel at peace in an orderly and structured environment, which makes it easier for them to understand the world around them and helps reduce the stress that unexpected changes can cause.

Some methods and examples you can follow to make daily routines more effective and understandable for individuals with autism:

• Visualise routines: Use calendars, charts, or visual guides to make morning, lunch, and evening routines more apparent. For example, on a card for the morning routine, you can list steps such as “washing hands,” “eating breakfast,” and “brushing teeth” with pictures.
• Add new routines gradually: Take a gradual approach when creating a new routine. For example, you can start by adding just one new activity over a week.
• Give notice of changes: When changes to routines are necessary, explain this in advance and help the individual prepare for the situation.

Creating visual routines or generating creative ideas may not always be easy. But don't worry, as The TEN Academy team, we are ready to support you in this process. You can make a free initial consultation appointment to provide guidance and solutions specific to your needs. Click for more information and appointment.

Re-evaluate Training and Therapy Goals

The needs and interests of individuals with special education needs can change frequently. Therefore, regularly reviewing and updating educational and therapy goals is one of the most important ways to provide them with more effective support. This evaluation allows for determining appropriate strategies for the child's development and accelerating progress. You should add a plan to reconsider your education and therapy goals to your strategy plan for the new year.

During this process, the institutions where individuals with autism receive education and therapy will be of great help to you in evaluating and updating goals. However, if such evaluation strategies do not yet exist in the institution, it is very important that you actively request this.

• Hold Review Meetings: A meeting with your child's therapists or teachers provides an opportunity to review how successful current goals are. These meetings allow you to understand your child's development process and also provide an important basis for setting new goals to accelerate progress. During this process, you can develop more effective strategies for the coming period by getting feedback from therapists or teachers about your child's development.
• Set Short and Long-Term Goals: Make sure that the goals you set for the new year are both short-term and long-term. Short-term goals can help your child go about his daily life more easily and independently. For example, setting concrete and achievable goals, such as expanding vocabulary or learning to dress independently, can increase motivation. Long-term goals can be larger goals that cover your child's overall development, such as improving social skills or developing emotional awareness.

Providing Sensory and Emotional Support

Individuals with autism may experience difficulties in daily life due to sensory sensitivities. Sounds, lights, textures, and other environmental factors can lead to sensory overload or anxiety. Therefore, providing sensory and emotional support is extremely important to ensure that the individual feels safe and comfortable.

To give some examples of changes or additions you will make in this area in the new year:

• Create Sensory-Friendly Spaces: Creating a space at home where your child can calm down and relax can facilitate sensory regulation. You can equip this area with soft pillows, plush toys and dim lights. You can also help your child avoid sensory overload by creating an environment where you can control sound and light levels.
• Use Emotional Regulation Tools: Emotional regulation is important for individuals with autism to express themselves healthily and control their emotional states. Visual tools such as "emotions cards" can help the child identify and manage his or her emotional state. Additionally, relaxing breathing exercises or simple relaxation techniques can provide calmness during stressful moments.

These methods allow you to meet individuals’ emotional and sensory needs and help him or her feel safe.

Make Time for Yourself and Your Family

While managing this entire process, you should not forget yourself when making new year plans for the autistic individuals in your life who are very valuable to you. Both the mental and physical health of every member of the family is of great importance. This way you can support them more strongly, without neglecting your care and mental health.

So, how can you make time for yourself in this busy schedule? Here are some suggestions:

• Learn to Slow Down: In the fast pace of life, sometimes we switch to autopilot and do not notice our tiredness. However, especially if you are the parent of an individual with special education needs, you may be very tired physically and mentally. Try to take at least ten minutes every day to listen to yourself and recharge. You can use this time for hobbies such as meditation, reading, knitting or doing puzzles.
•  Create a Support Network: It is very important to establish a support network that will make it easier to make time for yourself. You can create the space you need by getting help from a trusted caregiver or family member. This benefits both you and your family a lot.
• Spend Time as a Couple: Activities such as taking short walks with your partner or drinking coffee together can strengthen your bond with each other and allow you to spend quality time together.
•  Spend Time with Other Family Members: If you have other children or family members, plan activities where you can spend time with them. This strengthens family bonds and makes everyone feel valued.

Remember, for a healthy and balanced family life, it is very important to respect the needs of each individual and not neglect your care.

It is our great pleasure to be able to share with you this article that will guide you in your New Year's resolutions and plans. However, sometimes the information we receive from the articles may not fully meet the support we need. That's why, as The TEN Academy, we are always with you with the slogan "You Are Not Alone". We will continue to be with you to find the most suitable solutions for you and your family.

You can request a free consultation for more information and consultancy.

Written by Letife Mehmet