Changes of plan: how to give warning
An unexpected change may require an autistic person to replace a plan they have already prepared. The difficulty does not depend on whether the new plan is better or worse. Time to process it, uncertainty, sensory demands and what the person expected can all matter. Giving advance notice, explaining what is changing and keeping the information clear can reduce some of that effort.
Why a change may be difficult
Routines and advance information help some autistic people know what they need to do, how long an activity will last and what will happen afterwards. When a plan changes without warning, they have to process new information and stop the response they had already prepared.
Responses vary. A person may ask the same question several times, become angry, freeze, cry or need to move away. Another person may manage the change without difficulty. Timing also matters: after several hours of noise, interaction or tiredness, there may be less capacity left for an unexpected change.
A new plan may require effort even when it seems more enjoyable. ‘There is no school today; we are going to the park’ still replaces a familiar sequence with one that needs further details.
How to explain the change
- Give notice as soon as you can. A few minutes may be enough for one change; another may need several days of preparation.
- Explain three things: what is changing, what is staying the same and what will happen next.
- Use the format the person understands best. This may be spoken information, a written message, a calendar, photographs or a visual sequence.
- Do not promise something that is not confirmed. ‘We might go’ distinguishes a possibility from a fixed plan.
- Allow time for questions. Repeated questions may mean that information is still missing or that uncertainty is difficult to manage.
- Agree a plan for last-minute changes. A card, a short phrase or a familiar alternative may help when there is no time to give notice.
Advance information is not intended to prevent every change. It gives the person information in a form they can process. Flexibility can also be practised over time, but the pace and method should fit the person’s age, communication and needs.
Frequently asked questions
Is advance warning overprotective?
No. Clear information removes unnecessary uncertainty. Learning to manage change does not require receiving no explanation.
What if the change happens at the last minute?
Keep the explanation to what is needed: what is changing, what is staying the same and what needs to happen now. Then allow time to process it and reduce other demands where possible.
Why object when the new plan is enjoyable?
The person may still have to abandon an expectation they had prepared and construct a new one. The response does not show that they dislike the new activity.
Sources
NICE: autism support and management for under-19s. The guideline recommends considering changes to routines, lack of predictability, the environment and communication needs when assessing distress.
This article provides general information. Advance-warning methods should be adapted to the individual.
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