April
is Autism Acceptance Month.
Today, we are going to share about stimming. You
don't have to be autistic to "stim." For example, tapping your foot
when you're nervous could be an example of stimming. In autistic individuals,
stimming or self-stimulating behaviour can include hand-flapping, rocking, spinning,
visual stimulation like fluttering fingers near the eyes, or auditory-verbal
stimulation like repeatedly listening to part of a song or making the same
noise over and over. It can also include the repetitive use of an object, such
as a piece of string, or repetitive activities involving the senses (such as
seeking out certain scented items).
Stimming might help autistic people cope
with overwhelming sensory information, as well as manage strong emotions like
anxiety, anger, fear and excitement. For autistic people who are oversensitive
to sensory information, stimming can reduce sensory overload because it focuses
their attention on just one thing. For autistic people who are undersensitive,
stimming can stimulate ‘underactive’ senses.
Stopping autistic individuals from
stimming or reducing their stimming might make them feel more anxious, angry or
sad. It is important to understand why some people may engage in stimming
behaviour to help everyone understand people's different needs to help make our
environment as inclusive and welcoming as possible.