This is a blog about design from my perspective as a person with autism (self-diagnosed with Nonverbal Learning Disability and ADD). I cover both design issues for users with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), and particular designs I happen to like, while trying to give reasons why they may appeal to someone with autism. I’m not a professional designer, just someone who likes what he sees as good design. My perspective as a design-minded person with autism may be of interest to others (particularly those with ASD and anyone designing for them).
A New Way to Avoid Under-Performing Under Pressure
Anxiety is a common accompaniment to autism, and can manifest itself as ‘choking’, under-performing when under pressure to achieve a goal. Examples include under-performing in an exam or job interview due to anxiety at not getting the grade or job you want, even though you had the potential. A new study suggests that you can perform better in such circumstances by thinking you’ve already achieved the goal, and are performing to keep it rather than get it. For example, in an job interview, you can assume that you have the job, and are being interviewed for the right to keep the job. In an exam, assume you already have the desired grade, and are taking the exam to keep the grade. Read more about the study here.
The Mobicase for the Roving Typist
I can’t touch type, and issues with hand-eye coordination or poor memory puts touch typing beyond the reach of many with ASD. So I end up looking down at the keyboard and up at the screen repeatedly, which puts a strain on the neck and back. It’s worse with a laptop, because the screen is usually below normal eye-level, so you’re constantly looking down, while jiggling your head up and down to glance at the keyboard.
I found that raising the laptop and placing it at an angle helps to move the screen to eye level, with the keyboard just below. By propping up my forearms on a raised support in front of the keyboard, I found I could type comfortably with less strain. The Mobicase by Rovingwork makes it possible to adopt this position on the go. The laptop case has a mechanism that tilts the laptop to your preferred angle.
Video from Rovingwork
The Side-Loading Toaster!
I can’t believe this wasn’t invented sooner. I’ve always has a personal peeve about how most toasters are difficult to clean on the inside. You can take the inside of this one out and rinse it under the sink! Plus there’s a lot more you can toast with this. Check out the video:
Video credit: Seren Toaster
No More Sloppy Collars
Many on the autism spectrum find it annoying when certain things are not ‘just so’, including their attire. For me, the ‘sloppy collar’ was a minor irritant, especially if I’m wearing a polo shirt or other soft fabric. Thankfully, there’s a couple of tricks that may help with that. One is a collar shaper like the one in the video below:
Video credit: Stiff Collar Stay
To buy, go to www.stiffcollarstay.com
A good addition to the collar shaper are collar stays to keep the collar tips from curling. For collars that don’t have built-in pockets for stays (e.g. polo shirts), you can use stick-on stays like these from Wingmate:
Video credit: Wingmate
To buy, go to wingmate.us
No More Tying Shoelaces
Tying shoelaces can be a challenge to children with autism, and shoe-wearers of all kinds find it odd that we’re still fastening our shoes with bits of string in the 21st Century. Zubits has revolutionized the process with their magnetic closures, which you lace into once, and then fasten and unfasten with the magnetic buckle. They come in a variety of colors and work with any standard lace-up shoe.
Video by Zubits
Fight Negative Thoughts with the ‘Three Good Things Diary’
Negative thoughts are a recurring problem for anyone, but especially for many on the autism spectrum. Research has shown that keeping a daily record of positive things that happen to you (even small things) can help counter-balance negative thinking. In the video above from happierdotcom, Dr. Martin Seligman explains more about the Three Good Things Exercise.
Not Your Mother’s Fitted Sheet
Two big problems with fitted sheets:
a) Lifting the mattress to get them on/off. This is worse if your bed is against the wall, especially in the corner!
b) They don’t fold neatly away. Which is a problem if you’re obsessed with everything having straight lines, or at least not looking like a scrunched-up rag.
Thankfully QuickZip has the perfect solution. It’s basically an extra-secure fitted sheet with a top that unzips for changing, and folds neatly away. You have to see it to believe it!
Video from QuikZip’s YouTube channel.
Visit QuickZip to find out more.
The Hidden Struggle of Working Women With Autism
Autistic women can go for years without diagnosis, and struggle at work as a result. One company is determined to do something about it. Rachael Lucas’s “long history of walking out of very good jobs” began in her 20s after she quit her postgraduate degree at the University of Ulster. Working in different fields as […]
via ‘It’s Exhausting’: The Hidden Struggle of Working Women with Autism — Someone Somewhere
Blinkist: Read Four Books in One Day
For some autistics, reading can be a chore, especially if they have other conditions like ADD that often accompany autism. Blinkist is a useful service that summarizes popular non-fiction books into small chunks you can read in about 15 minutes, on your computer, tablet or smartphone. It’s a subscription service, but they offer a free trial. Try it out here!
DESIGN FOR ASD 