Strategies for everyday living with Autism
Financial and employment issues aside, just carrying out normal daily activities like getting out of bed and
getting ready for work can present unique challenges for adult autistics.
Below are some ideas for handling some common everyday problems adults with autism face. It should be noted that
these strategies might not work for every person with autism since each individual has a different set of
symptoms.
Or, the strategies may need to be modified to meet individual needs.
• Make very detailed checklists. Include each step that must be completed. For example, a morning checklist
might include things like “brush teeth,” “eat breakfast,” “shave,” and “shower.” They should also include items the
person needs to take with them for the day, like keys or a lunch.
• Use a PDA to remain organized and provide reminders for tasks that must be completed.
• Get rid of any clutter in the home. This will help you stay organized and help eliminate confusion.
• When considering tasks that need to be done, decide whether you really need to do them. And, if you do need
to do them, don’t worry about perfection.
• Follow a daily routine. It will eventually become habit.
• Break big jobs like housecleaning down into small jobs, like cleaning a portion of a room. This makes tasks
more manageable and you’ll be able to complete them in short periods of time.
• Ask for help when you need it.
• Use specific areas for specific tasks. For example, if you work out of your home, set aside a desk or other
area that you use only for work. This will allow the space to serve as your reminder that when you are there, you
are supposed to be working.
• Use pillboxes to help you take the proper dosages of your medication. Adults with autism often forget if
they took their medication or not, which can lead to overdosing. The pillbox should be divided into morning,
afternoon, and evening sections and should have a section for each day of the week. Make taking medication part of
your checklists.
People with autism may have difficulty remembering which clothing items they wore recently. This may lead to
wearing certain things more often than is acceptable in the non-autistic world. Try always hanging clean clothes up
on the right side of the closet and taking clothes to wear from the left side of the closet. This will keep your
wardrobe rotating. 
Strategies for everyday living
Planning a future
Home, Education, Leisure, Work,
Independence & Planning a Future
Autism Guide: The Essential Guide To Autism
Asperger's Syndrome in Laymens Terms. Aspergers Checklist
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