Disabled Living

Author: Sonya

  • Screen time and autism: When are screens necessary?

    Screen time and autism: When are screens necessary?

    In this guest blog by Autability, learn about why preconceptions about screen time can be harmful, and the uses and benefits of screens for children with autism, and their families.

    The question of screen time and people with autism

    Screen time. A topic we hear about a LOT in parenting. Some people see it as a treat, some people see it as dangerous. But what if someone has a genuine need for it?

    Many autistic children and adults get lost in their electronics. It’s helpful for so many reasons yet people will often judge parents who let their children use iPads, phones and laptops frequently because they don’t understand what is happening and why.

    So what does screen time actually do for an autistic and/or ADHD child? 

    1. It helps them regulate. Watching familiar videos or listening to favourite songs over and over can actually be a form of stimming. It helps the child regulate their emotions, calm their brain and rest mentally from an arousing and stressful world.
    2. Many autistic children will learn in their own way, in their own space, in their own time. Educational videos can often teach autistic children more than a teacher due to their surroundings at home being more comforting, familiar and quite than a classroom. My child learnt to read fluently by the age of 4 via his iPad.
    3. It allows the child to block out stressful external stimuli such as hospital waiting rooms, supermarkets or restaurants. They absorb themselves in their game, maybe with headphones on, and means they can cope in an environment which would otherwise cause sensory overload.
    4. Autistic children can find relationships in the outside world difficult. Many form friendships online or are able to communicate far easier with their friends online than in person. It can actually be their least stressful way of socialising. Of course, it is important to put online safely measures in place.
    5. It can allow children to take part in family time. ADHD children can really struggle to watch a film without becoming bored. But if they have a tablet or phone to play on, they can happily take part in family movie nights as they can occupy that part of their brain that causes boredom or under stimulation. The same goes for board games and meals out.
    6. Just like everyone else, autistic and ADHD children need time to rest even if they are regulated. Their version of rest often means occupying their brain with games. It’s simply their version of chilling out.

    Screen time and autism.

    About Autability

    Autability exists to educate, train and support people who parent or work with neurodivergent individuals. So much of the advice and training available today comes from neurotypical sources. Autability believes that the best qualification a person can have in order to advise and train others is lived experience.

    Autability has two directors, Charlotte and Danielle.

    Charlotte is diagnosed autistic, ADHD, dyspraxic and dyslexic. As well as her diagnoses she has the following qualifications and experience:

    • Post graduate certificate in autism
    • Working towards a masters in autism
    • Mum to a complex son diagnosed with autism, ADHD and epilepsy
    • Degree in music
    • Degree in history and religion
    • Qualified teacher
    • Director of Supporting Paws CIC
    • Author of upcoming book on parenting autistic children (published by JKP)
    • Fellowship of the royal school of music in piano, singing and flute

    Danielle is diagnosed ADHD. She has the following qualifications and experience:

    • Psychology degree
    • Mum to a complex son diagnosed with autism and ADHD
    • Creator of The Autism & ADHD Diaries blog
    • Experienced trainer in the corporate and not for profit sectors
    • Author of upcoming book on parenting autistic children (published by JKP)

    You can visit Autability’s website by clicking here. Learn more about Disabled Living’s Kidz to Adultz exhibitions by clicking here.

  • Baywatch 2021 campaign: Tackling disabled parking abuse

    Baywatch 2021 campaign: Tackling disabled parking abuse

    In this guest blog by Disabled Motoring UK, we learn about their excellent campaign to stop the misuse and abuse of disabled parking spaces, Baywatch 2021. Baywatch is supported by Baroness Grey-Thompson. 

    The issue of disabled bay enforcement

    A common problem for many disabled motorists is not being able to park at their desired destination. The major complaint is that the disabled bays are all occupied with cars not displaying a Blue Badge. Last year Disabled Motoring UK (DMUK) changed the format of the parking survey so that participants could fill it in at home. This allowed the charity to also expand the scope of the survey to gauge your opinions of other aspects of parking and the Blue Badge Scheme.

    The results are calculated and published when the survey closes. The charity presents this data to the parking industry and encourages it to take the parking problems of disabled motorists more seriously and manage their parking provision correctly. The Baywatch campaign also aims to change public attitudes by highlighting the impact of disabled bay abuse.

    Baywatch 2021 – improving disabled parking provision and enforcement

    The only way to keep the pressure on the parking industry is to run the DMUK Baywatch Campaign annually and this year it takes place in August and you’ll  be able to participate online by visiting the DMUK website.

    We hope to make this year bigger and better than ever before. We have a number of organisations supporting Baywatch 2021.

    The campaign has support from Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson. She commented: “It’s so sad that Disabled Motoring UK has to run its Baywatch Campaign. Disabled bay enforcement should be an imperative, especially for the major supermarkets that can afford to invest in policing their car parks. I see disabled parking abuse regularly, There is a real lack of understanding about how essential these bays are to disabled people and I applaud DMUK’s Baywatch Campaign as it plays a vital role in highlighting the issue of disabled parking abuse at supermarkets.”

    Graham Footer, Chief Executive, at DMUK, said: “Baywatch is one of the charity’s longest running campaigns and is really important to draw attention to the parking problems that disabled people face when just trying to go about their daily lives. It is now an annual campaign for the charity. We hope this will allow us to gather momentum and keep the pressure on the supermarkets and other car park owners to do more to support their disabled customers. It’s fantastic that the campaign has support from Baroness Grey-Thompson again this year. This campaign relies on public participation and we hope her support will encourage others to get involved.”

    Supporting organisations

    These organisations support DMUK/s Baywatch campaign:

    We’d like to get as many organisations involved as possible to spread awareness of the campaign. There is still time to get involved and we welcome all support with this vital campaign.

Disabled Living