𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐦: 𝐀 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲

Anyone can guess that it's an AI-generated image of Afiyah, but my words are purely from my heart 🤗♥️

So, let's get to the main topic of Christmas before I get distracted and start writing another blog that's brewing.

Christmas, what a magical time. Everyone is buying gifts, preparing for the holiday season, planning activities for their children and family members, deciding what to wear on the day, and, of course, preparing a meal for the big day. How wonderful does all the above sound? What a lovely family time this is for so many around the globe, but things are different for those with Autism and their families. 

Let me paint a picture for you of the Christmas holidays in the good old UK. Imagine freezing cold weather, with rain most of the time, and dusk around 4 pm. Shops are heaving, every restaurant is fully booked and guess what, it’s a change in routine for the autistic people from their usual routine of going to school or college. If you’ve been on any of my Autism Training Courses, then you’d understand how important maintaining a routine is for those with autism. 

Autistic people thrive on routine and structure because it helps them make sense of the day. Some autistic people cope with mild to moderate changes in their routine, and some can’t cope at all. Also, having a routine helps with anxiety. Research shows that more than half of autistic people suffer from anxiety regularly. So, imagine you’re able to help an autistic person manage their anxiety by maintaining structure and routine in their everyday life - Isn’t that a win for all? 

Let’s get back to the picture I was painting for you all. Dark, short days: shops, restaurants, and play centres are heaving; not much to keep autistic people entertained other than managing them at home. Let’s throw in a Christmas party in the midst of this. Different food, more people, loud noises, etc.… This is enough for a neurotypical person to start getting anxious, never mind an autistic person. Hence, most families with autistic children start avoiding Christmas parties and activities because it’s not easy for the autistic person to participate. This leads to feelings of isolation and resentment towards this particular holiday season. To add to it, we have to endure all the lovely Christmas photos of other people and their lavish Christmas parties on social media. Oh well, that’s just a cherry on top, isn’t it?!! 

I’m sure the title of this blog makes sense to you now. It’s similar for Muslim families around Eid time. The planning I have to go through to make it to the morning Eid prayer is beyond imagination. I can’t take Afiyah to the prayer as it’s overwhelming for her. So I have to rely on her school day, or if Eid falls on a weekend or during holidays, I’m stuck. Eid has not felt like a joyous occasion for quite a few years now, sadly. Although it’s very spiritually enriching for me, emotionally, I’m drained by the fact that I can’t celebrate it the same way everyone else does. The feeling of isolation is always there in the background, subconsciously, but during festive occasions, it becomes profound. 

So, my beautiful readers, if you’re reading this, spare a minute to think of those who may struggle to be part of this joyous festive period. Maybe you can text them or ask how you can help. Perhaps you can ask how you can make it more accessible for their autistic child, so they feel included. After all, we humans are social creatures, and we thrive on social interaction. So, let’s try to make those who find this time of year difficult feel included, because there’s always a way 🙌🏻

Until next time, beautiful people (I don’t know when that will be, haha). I wish you all a lovely Christmas break and a Happy New Year. 

Do keep an eye out for our Training Courses in the New Year. We are going to be back with a bang as we have loads to offer at The Autism Foundation for parents, caregivers and professionals.