Alter the environment to suit the individual, not the individual to suit the environment.
It is an unfortunate circumstance that individuals with autism are often forced to adapt to an environment that is built for typical peers. As a result, strides in certain behaviors can be diminished. Our goal at Empower Autism is to help alter this practice by helping to adapt the environment to the person. Here, we have listed many of the products that we have utilized in our personal practice to aid in increasing the independence of our clients. Many of these products are highlighted in our educational videos. Some products displayed include affiliate links.
Self-Care Products
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This Oral-B toothbrush is excellent for children and adults with autism. It is linked with an application on your phone that shows you in real-time, which six areas of the mouth the person still needs to brush. It is also equipped with a 2-minute timer, low sensitivity mode, and lights indicating if the individual is applying too much or too little pressure. This provides excellent visualizations for the learner to grasp the skill quickly.
This Phillips electric razor is a good introduction to shaving. With this razor, the shave will not be as close as more traditional straight blades, however, you will have the peace of mind to know that it is safe. This product was first introduced to us from individuals with Parkinson’s Disease because it eliminates any potential for facial cuts. Furthermore, it runs fairly quiet, which can be necessary for individuals with sensory issues.
This soap dispenser provides a visual timer for children and adults to wash their hands. It can be a great training tool when first learning and maintaining this skill. There are cheaper products on the market that lack the visual component of this dispenser. Understand what your child needs in order to provide them with the best environment.
The MOPMs toothpaste dispenser is a good tool for individuals that have trouble squeezing and distributing toothpaste. There are many options for this tool, but this brand is cheap and effective.
A water floss pick can be an excellent alternative to traditional flossing. Many people have difficulty with the pain and motor movements necessary in using floss. This alternative provides a less invasive approach. However, keep in mind that strong fine motor skills may be necessary to learn the entirety of water pick flossing. The COSLUS brand is a cost effective option if you are unsure if your child will be able to complete the task.
Kitchen & Cooking Products
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This knife set is a great starting point for individuals of all ages and abilities. Shockingly, these knives cut through a great variety of foods including breads and vegetables. It is also effective in cutting cooked meats such as chicken. This is a safe way for individuals to cook independently at home, at vocational sites, and other locations.
These silicon baking sheets have been very helpful in private practice when teaching cooking skills. Many individuals with autism can have trouble with spacing, which can be particularly difficult when learning to make foods such as cookies. With these silicon sheets, the environment is adjusted to remove the need for this understanding leading to quicker acquisition of the skill.
Air fryers are a safe way to give cooking access to individuals with autism. With this appliance we can avoid use of the oven or stove if the person hasn’t acquired those skills yet. Do not feel obligated to purchase this particular air fryer, as there are many top products on the market. However, this brand has been used by clients because it is very simple to use. The individual merely has to set the temperature and time after placing the food into the system. This fryer also turns off automatically after the timer has expired to allow for additional safety.
The electric kettle is a great alternative to typical kettles that require turning on stove top burners. With this product the person with autism does not have to turn on the stove, deal with natural gas, or worry about getting burns. The electric kettle boils water quickly and turns off automatically once completed. This is a safe tool for anyone who may need to boil water.
The vegetable cutter can be a solid edition to the home of any individual with autism. The device decreases the effort necessary for food preparation. It is also a safe and effective way of cutting without having to worry about your child injuring themself. The one caveat is that cleaning the kitchen tool can require strong fine motor skills.
Independent Living
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The Nest Smoke Detector is a great high-tech way to give caregivers the peace of mind to allow adolescents and adults with autism to be home alone or live on their own. This detector connects to your phone’s application. It will notify you whenever low levels of smoke or carbon monoxide have been detected. It will also notify you if the detector has been disengaged. With this tool you can know your child or dependent is always safe.
The Ring Alarm System is a fantastic tool for the individual that lives on their own. Caregivers and dependents can know that their person is safe every night. They also will be notified through the application when doors or windows have been opened, so you know whenever the person leaves or enters the house. This tool can also be great for children who engage in elopement (running-away). Parents will know when different doors and windows have been opened in their own home to prevent this behavior. Additional contact sensors can also be purchased for homes with more doors and windows. The best part of this product is that it is a one-time purchase that does not require a monitoring subscription, unless desired.
These water leak sensors are a great product for individuals with autism who live on their own or in a group home. With this detector caregivers can monitor multiple rooms of the the person’s home to ensure there are no water issues. This eliminates the worries over having bathtubs overflow, sinks break, or flood waters enter the home. As soon as small amounts of water are detected, the sensors will send a notification to your phone allowing you to quickly respond to the problem.
The laundry assistant is a very helpful tool to ease your learner’s introduction to folding clothing. This product makes folding shirts, pants, and shorts simple to teach and learn. With only a few teachable movements, the individual can have neatly folded clothes. This limits the worry of sending your child out of their apartment or group home with a wrinkled look.
Health and Fitness
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The Whoop is a great wearable device that can help you track the heart rate, sleep patterns, and workout performance of your child. You no longer have to wonder if your child is getting adequate sleep or if their exerting themself enough throughout the day to enhance health. Furthermore, you will know when your child may be feeling under the weather due to changes in heart rate, sleep patterns, skin temperature, and more. If your child has sensory issues, the device can be worn as a bracelet on the wrist, in your child’s underwear or bra, and in bathing suits.
Spot markers can be a great tool for teaching exercises and athletic activities. They can show the individual where they should stand, where they should go next, or where their feet should be placed. They are very useful when teaching exercises such as squats and lunges. They are great for sports such as basketball and baseball as well.