The Autism Society Event and Education Recordings Archive

It can be very difficult for individuals with ASD to understand and cope with health-care encounters. Participants will become aware of the risk of psychological distress and strategies to promote more positive experiences. Success stories will be shared of families supported by a program called SNAP (Special Needs Advocacy Partners). This initiative is a collaborative effort of families and staff to pre-plan the visit, prepare the patient, and modify the appointment protocol as needed, thus improving the experience of care. It can be very difficult for individuals with ASD to understand and cope with invasive healthcare appointments.  Often patients are managed with restraint and swiftness, leaving them traumatized and more mistrusting of healthcare professionals.  Because of these experiences, some families do not make follow-up appointments for care, which negatively affects the patient's health status

The literature confirms the importance of psychosocial support in healthcare to reduce the impact of psychological distress. Many of the current support strategies have focused on patients of typical development. This session will review preparation and support methods that are responsive to the unique needs of those with ASD.

Participants will become aware of ways to help desensitize individuals who have aversions to healthcare encounters before the visits. The practice of incorporating healthcare materials/activities and positive attitudes in the home and school will be encouraged. Success stories and photos will be shown of families supported by a program called SNAP (Special Needs Advocacy Partners). Information about this collaborative initiative will be shared that can be replicated in any setting. Healthcare staff develop a psychosocial plan of care using parent/caregiver input.  The plan includes supportive strategies.  To meet the unique needs, each plan is tailored to the specific patient and may include (but is not limited to) one or more of the following: pre-medication, a tour of the area, a play session or visit in the treatment space, homework to prepare for the visit, customized stories, photos, films and pre-registration.  Support during the appointment may include visual schedules, distraction with materials or DVDs, coping strategies, comfort holds, weighted blankets, topical creams, medication, modified exam protocols and other innovative efforts.

The end result of these pre-emptive and supportive measures is that the patient's experience of care is improved.  Patient, parent and staff satisfaction has increased, since these strategies help facilitate more thorough exams and treatments with less trauma.  Patient cooperation has also increased significantly, thus improving staff productivity.  These interventions have been changing the outcome.

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