Self Care
Self-care tasks can range from basic tasks such as toileting and hand washing to more complex tasks such as meal preparation. Self – care tasks are a crucial talent for everyone to acquire. A teenager with autism might find it difficult to fully comprehend the significance or even the procedure of self – care tasks and because of this, instruction could be a bit more challenging. Facilitating independence in these tasks can be difficult, following the strategies in this section may be helpful.
Teenagers with autism may not implicitly learn about hygiene and personal care.
One of the greatest “gifts” we can give to young people is personal independence.
Failure to address self-help skills may prevent the teenager from full participation in community integration as they get older.
It is important when implementing the following strategies that care is taken to teach the teenager with autism the fundamental steps of each process and explain why it is important that self – care tasks are completed regularly.