OBVIOUS Medical Accommodations for Autistic People (and Everyone, Really) 🚑 ⛑️ 🩺
I had a positive medical experience when taking my daughter to her initial consultation for oral surgery. I came home and shot this video with the hope that other medical professionals might see this and make these very simple, FREE accommodations to improve the neurodivergent medical experience.
Without proper accommodations, the autistic experience is full of sensory discomfort and social overwhelm which prevents many of us from scheduling and following through with important medical care.
Please share this video with any medical professionals you may know! What else would you add to the list?
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DISCLAIMER: Taylor Heaton is not a licensed psychologist or specialist healthcare professional. Her services do not replace the care of psychologists or other healthcare professionals. Please note that Taylor can’t take any responsibility for the results of your actions, nor any harm or damage you suffer as a result of the use, or non-use of the information available through her website, KZhead Channel, or social media accounts. Please use judgment and conduct due diligence before taking any action or implementing any plan or practice suggested or recommended by Taylor Heaton or Mom on the Spectrum. Please note that Taylor doesn't make any guarantees about the results of the information you may apply from her website, KZhead channel, and/or social media accounts. Taylor shares educational and informational resources that are intended to help you succeed in navigating life as an autistic adult. You nevertheless need to know that your outcome will be the result of your own efforts, your particular situation, and innumerable other circumstances beyond Taylor's knowledge and control. Taylor is an Amazon affiliate and may receive commissions on qualifying purchases from affiliate links. Taylor is a Flare affiliate and may receive commissions on qualifying purchases from Flare links.
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#latediagnosedautistic #momonthespectrum #autisticadult
It's sad when kindness is the exception.
I'm autistic and a nurse. I take notes to try my best and also to help my colleagues to understand the importance of this.
I have enough medical trauma for 100 people and unfortunately I live with a hoard of chronic health issues that require constant interactions with the medical system, and make basic things, like teeth cleaning, very stressful and painful for me. I can't work because I have to take so much time with appointments and taking care of my body. One experience like this would go such a long way to help me to feel safe and like I have autonomy in a medical situation. I hope this becomes standard in the future and I'm so glad you got to experience this! Thank you for sharing- it gives me hope!
When I have had especially stressful or unfamiliar doctors appointments to attend in the past, a few times I've brought a supportive friend as my notetaker/assistant. It helps so much just to know that I'll have a record of everything we spoke about when I leave, and I can focus on listening and communicating instead of worrying about remembering it all. Sometimes I'll tell my friend the big questions I want to ask in advance, so they can remind me if I forget to ask something during the appointment. It's unbelievably helpful.
this should be normal - even for NT people
This is kind care. I've been in some terrible care situations with my pets, elderly parents, and myself.
I’m a nurse working in primary care and this was a very informative video! I was relieved that everything you said was either stuff I’ve already been trying to intentionally do (for everyone not just neurodivergent people) and the ones I hadn’t already thought of/haven’t implemented yet are generally pretty straightforward and seem easy enough to try to start implementing.
I hope more practitioners catch into this. I'm always like in tears of joy for hearing of positive interactions. Great job everyone. I have a huge distrust in medical practices. I also worked for an insurance company. So knowing the ins and out having my mom misdiagnosed and ignored. I'm happy for those who get the service they need.
Glad you had a good experience. We use a similar method in our practice. We ask open ended questions for any concerns the patient might have, we ask for questions multiple times before we end each appointment and we provide our direct phone numbers if they think of any questions or concerns after the appointment.
My dentist texted me THIS morning about 1.5 hours before my appt…which for me as ADHD (ASD) was just so helpful! I also loved how they asked my nickname and came to get me asking not Ms _ or formal name but by my nickname! My fear level dropped a notch just from that! Also, when I explained how scared I was at my crown appt and how the TV helped, she asked me if I wanted TV for my cleaning and, YES, I did. But I would not have asked. What wimp needs that. Ok me…sensitivity central! My stress bucket fills up with all the poking and scraping even when it doesn’t technically hurt. I had her put on pbs cartoons! Bright colors and predictable little stories are so distracting and calming. I sensed zero judgement from this 20 something woman that a 62 year old wanted to watch cartoons! She also took her time, let me fully answer questions and let pauses happen so I could process and always told me what was going to happen next and asked if I was okay with her doing that next thing. I felt very heard, seen and validated throughout the 45 min appointment. A+ to my new dentist for neurodivergent patient
So glad you had such a positive experience! 👏💞
I’m so glad you had a good appointment. It’s so hard to go to the doctor. Everybody would be better going to the doctor if all the doctors cared this much.
Accommodation suggestion - Clear instructions. Its such a simple thing that nobody gets right.
Some of the accommodations I’ve appreciated have been mask exemptions, being able to pick how I would sit or lay, being able to “help” with certain procedures, having warm blankets provided, and having them seek informed consent at every step. I also appreciate the medical staff that allow me to accompany my ND child even though he’s at the age where that isn’t commonly done. There are more, but I can’t remember them right now. It was difficult to disclose previous medical related trauma and my neurodivergence, but the accommodations made it worthwhile. I’ve only had one physician outright refuse to accommodate me, and two dental offices that were awful. Office staff are usually the hardest as they like to be gatekeepers, so even with accommodations, I do usually have to remind those staff members when I first arrive. But most others try at least on some level.
They are so thorough and respectful that they make more of a difference than they realize, and how deeply appreciative we are to clinicians who practice in this manner 😊
This is so helpful! Thank you. Also, didn't realize that you were in a rural Texas town (or at least the dentist's office is). That must add a whole layer of difficulty to being an autistic woman. I'm in a mid-sized Louisiana town. Lots of masking, lots of scripting. I've given lots of doctors a try and find that when they're not educated about adult autism it is
My current GP is the only doctor I've ever had who has done this: (I've moved around a lot and had lots of doctors)
It’s not so simple otherwise everyone would do it. It would be wonderful if all medical places did that but they don’t. Neuro-typical people would benefit from this approach.
make a list …and then immediately hate it.😂 (That’s from the bingo card. )
If a medical person is giving you a panic attack, then ask if there is someone available that is good with dealing with people who are having a panic attack.