Secrets & Safety
This 21 Page Information resource guide offers an overview of key considerations for teachers and parents supporting Autistic children in understanding the concepts of secrets.
Autistic individuals often approach social concepts differently due to unique perspectives in communication, social imagination, and cognitive processing.
Secrets, a common social construct, can be particularly challenging for Autistic children to navigate, as their literal thinking and monotropic focus may lead them to interpret "keeping a secret" as an unbreakable rule rather than something that can be evaluated or questioned.
Additionally, differences in social imagination may make it harder for Autistic children to infer intentions behind requests to keep a secret, especially when these come from trusted figures or authority figures.
This guide emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between safe secrets, such as temporary surprises that bring joy, and unsafe secrets, which may cause discomfort, fear, or harm.
Autistic children may benefit from explicit teaching that clearly defines these categories, helping them identify when a secret is unsafe and equipping them with strategies to share it with a trusted adult.
The guide highlights neuroaffirmative approaches that respect Autistic communication styles and strengths while providing practical tools like visual supports, social stories, and role-playing exercises to reaffirm these concepts
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