Transitioning from high school to adulthood brings new responsibilities and expectations. For many autistic young adults, challenges with executive functioning, like time management, organization, and task completion, can make this transition overwhelming.
The good news? Technology can be an extremely helpful tool in building independence, structure, and confidence in their daily lives. It can provide practical, user-friendly solutions to support their growing executive functioning skills. Take a look at how these tools can help make everyday life more manageable and less stressful for your young adult on the autism spectrum.
Visual Timers
Time can be an abstract and confusing concept for many individuals with autism. Gauging how long a task will take, transitioning between activities, or keeping track of appointments can lead to frustration and anxiety.
Visual timers provide a clear representation of time, making it easier to understand and manage. For example, some apps like Pomodoro or Time Timer use color-coded countdowns to show how much time is left in an activity. This can be especially helpful for:
- Getting ready in the morning, such as allowing 10 minutes for breakfast, or 5 minutes for brushing teeth.
- Work and study sessions by setting a timer for focused work with built-in breaks.
- Daily transitions, like knowing when it’s time to leave for work or take a break.
By utilizing visual timers into your young adult’s daily routine, they can build better time awareness and reduce the stress of feeling rushed or disoriented.
Visual Schedules
Many autistic young adults thrive on routine and structure. A visual schedule, whether on paper or an app, offers a clear, step-by-step guide for daily activities, making tasks more manageable and less overwhelming. They allow them to plan their day, stay on track, and manage transitions smoothly.
Digital scheduling apps like Google Calendar will allow your young adult to:
- Plan their day visually to make it easier to understand what’s coming next.
- Set reminders for important tasks like appointments, taking medication, or getting to work on time.
- Break down routines into smaller, achievable steps to prevent overwhelm.
By following a structured schedule, tasks that once felt chaotic or unpredictable become more doable. Over time, visual schedules can help build executive functioning skills, giving autistic adults more confidence in handling their daily responsibilities.
Reminders and Checklists
For many young adults with autism, keeping up with daily responsibilities can be challenging, especially when it comes to remembering important tasks or shifting focus from one activity to another. Executive functioning difficulties can make it hard to manage time effectively, which leads to forgotten deadlines, incomplete tasks, or missed appointments. That’s where reminders and checklists can make a difference.
Setting up personalized reminders can help keep important tasks from slipping through the cracks. Whether it’s a simple alarm, a pop-up notification, or a checklist of daily responsibilities, these tools provide gentle cues to stay on track without the need for external prompting.
Some young adults might benefit from structured step-by-step task lists that break complex activities into smaller, more manageable actions. For instance, rather than vague reminder to “clean the kitchen,” a checklist might include:
- Put dishes in the dishwasher
- Wipe down kitchen counters
- Take out the trash
This kind of structured approach provides a clear path to completion, making it easier to transition from one task to the next.
For autistic adults in the workplace, reminders and checklists can be just as beneficial. Instead of relying on a manager or coworker for frequent prompts, a digital or written checklist can help keep track of job duties, project deadlines, or even break times. This boosts confidence and independence, making it easier to navigate work environments without additional stress.
Technology isn’t just about making life easier; it’s about empowering autistic young adults to take control of their routines, responsibilities, and goals. As a parent, you can support your child by helping them explore and experiment with different tech-based solutions to see what works best for them. Finding the right combination of tools can turn daily challenges into manageable tasks, leading to greater confidence, independence, and success in adulthood.
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