Special Interests

Day 5 of a 30-day series originally published for Facebook April 2021

The Letter "E" song, shapes, the alphabet, stacking blocks, The Incredibles, Super Mario Bros, Disney Theme Parks, Instructions, Goo Jitzu, Names of Hasbro Games, any book written by Jory John... These are all past or present "special interests" of M's.

From the outside, a special interest can look like an obsession, but its purpose and cause are not at all the same. At its core, special interests are a tool for self-regulation. Special interests can help autistic persons feel calm, relaxed, joyous, and more able to manage because of the predictability and structure they provide.

Earlier this year we took a trip to Disney. We knew this was a huge risk, it was likely going to be chaotic, our schedule would be different, and the noise and action could be overwhelming. However, once we got there, we noticed M already attempting to structure and regulate what was going on. He was interested in the maps of the parks, and each attraction. So we encourage that. We helped him chart the attractions at each park, reviewing the names and characters of each. This engaged him, but it also calmed him and he retreated back to his map whenever he needed to regulate. He still refers back to the park maps and the names of each attraction to help him explain his experiences at the parks.

Special interests can also help make conversation easier. Right now, if you talk to M he will likely find a way to engage with you on the newest Nintendo Switch game. If he didn't have a special interest, he might not speak to you at all.

In the past, certain therapies would attempt to suppress the special interest to help make a child appear more "normal," but thankfully, today we are at a place where special interests are encouraged, and when appropriate, can help guide a young kid to a future friend group or even a profession. There's even a fabulous network of local psychologists who run a therapy group built around the special interest of "gaming." There is also an autism play therapy group centered around LEGO.

There is a downside to having a special interest. Sometimes, a special interest can abruptly end.. such as a beloved television show, a book series ending, or the loss of a physical item. It can cause a LOT of stress. Years ago Gap made some Incredibles pajamas that M wore literally every night. The Incredibles was a major special interest at the time, and it stuck around for about 3 years. Eventually, he grew out of the pajamas, and even though I'd bought 3 sizes, we reached the biggest size and Gap no longer sold them. We were able to work through it, but it was a difficult time for him.