Autism+and+Social+Media

Autism and Social Media By Katy Cummings One of the biggest challenges individuals with autism face is communication. Individuals with ASD do not grasp the “social rules” we use every day. It is difficult for these individuals to take turns or read facial cues. They may fail to recognize another person’s perspective. These communication challenges can make it hard for individuals with ASD to make friends.

Social media can help these individuals have a voice in the world. According to **// Hear Our Voices, //** one blogger states, // “ //// Social media has become a staple in communication across the globe. It allows for constant contact, networking, and various levels of friendly and professional communication that could not otherwise be achieved. It provides an unlimited amount of benefits, with the digital world at the fingertips of anyone who chooses to use it.” //

Communication through social media can be rewarding for individuals with autism. They can be part of a social network and form friendships with others who share similar interests (perhaps video game Facebook groups or YOU TUBE channels relating to science or technology). Finding a social relationship can be less stressful through social media. These individuals can “Tweet” their thoughts without having the face-to-face conversation that can be challenging. They can feel confident communicating their thoughts.

A barrier that ASD individuals might face when using social media is not being able to develop their verbal communication skills. They can move beyond this barrier with help from other individuals. One way might be by using YOU TUBE to record video presentations. Another individual (teacher, friend, sibling, etc.) could help them script what they want to record and help them practice speaking in front of the camera. Rather than presenting in front of a room of people, they only need to record themselves and then upload their video to the appropriate YOU TUBE channel. This way, the individual with ASD is still practicing their verbal skills, improving speech and gaining confidence.

Social media can benefit individuals with autism in so many ways! It can eliminate the face-to-face communication that is difficult for these individuals. Using social media can open up new friendships and help individuals with autism have a “voice” they may not have had otherwise!

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Katy,

Great article. For the very first time I have an autistic student in my classroom. He is an 8th grader, just turned 15, is about 6 feet tall. He is in my boys choir and very low functioning. I was very frustrated at the beginning of the year because he didn't know when to be quiet and was not able to do any of the choral things needed to improve. I sat down with his parents and had a great conversation with them. They stated he really liked to sing and they wanted him to have social interaction with other students. I was really worried how the other boys in the class would react to him but they have been GREAT. They encourage him to sing in the right places and help him learn his music. When teenagers can be cruel to one another at times, my boys choir has pleasantly surprised me with their kind hearts.

Wendy