In previous posts, I've written about how working with kids and having autism can sometimes be a challenge. This continues to be proven in my current job at the preschool I work at, and I continue to find ways to overcome and compensate for these difficulties.
Two of the things my preschool kids love to do is play with shaving cream and paint with something called Puff Paint. Puff Paint is made with shaving cream, glue, and food coloring. These two things are hard for me to do with the kids because of my sensory issues. I don't like stuff stuck to my skin, especially on my hands. Both shaving cream and glue feel very weird to me. I especially don't like glue. It's sticky and messy and hard to get off. Shaving cream isn't as bad, but it's still messy and feels weird.
One of my coworkers asked me the other day exactly why I didn't like the feel of these two things. What specifically about them did I not like. She loves doing these activities and loves the feel of them. I can't really point to the exact thing that causes me to avoid touching these things. I can't really fully explain most of my sensory issues, especially touch. It just feels weird. I don't like it. Something in my brain is wired differently so that when I touch these things my brain says "That's not right. Don't do that." Logically, I know there's nothing wrong with these objects or substances, but logic doesn't seem to matter with autism and sensory issues. My system is still going to react negatively to these stimuli.
Sometimes when people find out I'm sensitive to one or two things, they start asking me what else I'm sensitive to. Some people don't understand how I can be sensitive to certain things but not other things. One person couldn't understand that I don't like shaving cream, but foaming soap doesn't bother me. It's because those aren't the same texture. They don't feel the same; not even close.
Be sensitive to someone with sensory issues. Don't tell someone with sensory issues that their difficulties don't exist, they're just in their head, they're weird, or they don't make sense. Be kind, try to understand, and learn from people with sensory issues. It's hard enough for us as it is. Don't make it harder.
"I live in the same world you do; I just experience it differently. I am a human being with feelings, just like you; I just express them in my own way." ~Me~
