Joanna Fortune: My child finds it extremely difficult to deal with unexpected changes

It's impossible to prepare for unexpected situations, and when they do arise,  parents can feel anxious, just as it can cause an anxiety spike in their child.

Change can be very difficult for autistic people. This can be due to some of the behavioural, sensory and information-processing challenges they experience. They tend to prefer predictability and familiar environments and routines. 

My son is six years old and autistic. He finds it extremely difficult to deal with unexpected changes — it could be anything from a cold, frosty morning to visitors and new food. I use the storyboard technique, which helps when I know what's coming up. But this doesn't apply when something happens out of the blue.

Storyboards are a very useful tool in helping children understand what is required of them in relation to everyday tasks, new places, or changes in routine.