This guide will help you answer 4.1. Explain why it is important to have in place structures and routines which match the wishes and needs of the individual.
Supporting someone with autistic spectrum condition (ASC) often means creating a clear, predictable daily structure that fits their personal preferences and requirements. Many autistic people experience anxiety with unexpected changes, unclear instructions, or unpredictable environments. A routine they recognise and trust helps them feel safe and more able to engage in activities.
A structure in this context is a planned pattern for the day with clearly defined activities, times, and boundaries. A routine is the repeated order in which these activities happen. These need to be shaped not only to support safety and health but to match the person’s own wishes, sensory needs, and communication requirements.
Meeting the Wishes of the Individual with ASC
Every autistic person is unique. Some may want to carry out tasks independently, others may prefer joint activity support. Matching routines with personal wishes is a way to respect choice and promote confidence. This may include the order in which activities are carried out, the people they interact with, or specific interests they want to include.
Examples of wishes:
- Starting the day with a calming activity such as reading or looking at visual prompts
- Eating preferred foods in a familiar space
- Having time for special interests such as drawing, music, or collecting items
- Avoiding certain activities or environments that cause distress
Respecting these wishes within the structure means the person can approach each day with more comfort.
Meeting the Needs of the Individual with ASC
Needs vary widely. Some autistic people have heightened sensory sensitivity, communication differences, or specific health requirements. A routine must address these so that the person can function and feel well.
Needs might include:
- Quiet time to recover from sensory input
- Support for communication through visual schedules or assistive technology
- Consistency in the carers they meet to reduce anxiety
- Clear rules for transitions between activities
- Medical support such as regular medication times
Matching the structure to these needs avoids unnecessary stress and helps the person remain engaged in daily life.
Reducing Anxiety and Promoting Emotional Stability
Unexpected change can be distressing for someone with ASC. A routine that is predictable and visually clear often reduces anxiety. By knowing exactly what is planned, and how each activity will happen, the person can feel more in control.
Benefits include:
- Lower levels of anxiety and distress
- Increased engagement in planning their own day
- Improved sense of safety in their environment
- Better regulation of emotions
Visual timetables, social stories, or consistent verbal prompts can support understanding and confidence.
Supporting Communication
Many autistic people benefit from routines that use clear, consistent communication. This might be through symbols, pictures, written lists, or spoken instructions given in a set order. Using the person’s preferred communication method helps them follow their day more easily.
Ways to support:
- Agree on one communication method they respond best to
- Use the same wording for regular activities
- Give time to process information before moving on
- Introduce changes with advance warning and visual cues
This makes the structure more effective and reduces misunderstandings.
Promoting Independence
Matching routines to the person’s wishes and needs can allow them to take control of more of their own daily tasks. Independence can be encouraged when they understand the structure well and feel comfortable following it.
Approaches:
- Break tasks into small, clear steps
- Keep the same order for repeated activities
- Allow the person to indicate when they want to start or finish a task
- Offer choices within the structure, such as what activity to do in a set time block
Predictability supports learning and practice of skills.
Respecting Sensory Preferences
Sensory needs are often an important part of autism care planning. Too much sound, light, or touch can be overwhelming. The structure should consider when and where activities happen to match the person’s sensory preferences.
Examples:
- Scheduling quiet activities after busy or noisy ones
- Allowing break times in low-stimulation areas
- Avoiding bright or flashing lights during activities
- Using headphones or ear defenders in noisy spaces
This sensitivity in planning routines reduces discomfort and supports engagement.
Encouraging Positive Relationships
Matching daily structure to what the person enjoys and can manage helps them feel calm and ready to interact. This applies to relationships with carers, peers, and family. Smooth transitions and predictable contact times promote trust.
Positive relationship outcomes:
- Fewer conflicts or refusals to take part
- More willingness to communicate needs and feelings
- Stronger bond with regular carers or support staff
- Better cooperation during new activities
Predictable routines lay the groundwork for positive social interaction.
Balancing Consistency and Change
For people with ASC, consistency is often comforting. Repetition builds security. Still, their wishes and needs may shift over time. Change can be introduced carefully and with clear explanation, using visual or sensory preparation techniques.
Balanced approaches:
- Keep core routines stable while making small changes at agreed times
- Use transitional aids like photographs of new settings or step-by-step guides
- Provide warning of changes well in advance
- Check understanding before change happens
This avoids distress while making the routine relevant to current needs.
Supporting Health and Safety
Health needs such as diet, medication, and physical activity can be embedded into daily routines for autistic people. Predictable scheduling makes these activities easier to accept and participate in.
Benefits include:
- Improved adherence to medication schedules
- Regular eating patterns that fit dietary needs and preferences
- Balanced movement and rest for physical wellbeing
- Prompt responses to health issues through observed patterns
Controlled and repeated routines help monitor health indicators.
Involving the Person in Planning
The person should help create and review their routines whenever possible. Using methods they understand, such as choice cards or interactive planning tools, lets them have a real say in their day.
Methods:
- Hold planning sessions using visual aids
- Offer two or three clear options for activities or timings
- Let them arrange symbols or cards in their preferred order
- Review routines together each week or month
This involvement strengthens self-advocacy and satisfaction.
Working with Families and Support Networks
Family members or close supporters often know the person’s preferences well. They can provide valuable insight when setting up routines. This is particularly useful for identifying triggers for distress, strategies for calming, and activities that increase happiness.
Actions:
- Gather details about known preferences and dislikes
- Ask about sensory sensitivities and successful calming techniques
- Involve them in reviewing whether the routine is working
- Agree ways to communicate updates or changes quickly
This helps maintain routines that reflect the person’s life outside formal care.
Monitoring and Reviewing Routines for ASC
The needs and wishes of someone with ASC can change if their circumstances shift. Monitoring routines means looking for signs of stress, boredom, or confusion.
Monitoring steps:
- Watch for changes in mood during specific activities
- Note refusal patterns that suggest a part of the routine is disliked
- Record successes where the person is calm and engaged
- Adjust routines slowly, with preparation, when needed
Reviewing keeps the daily structure supportive and safe.
Risks of Ignoring Wishes and Needs in ASC
If routines fail to match what matters to the person with ASC, negative effects can be strong. This might include:
- Increased anxiety and distress
- Withdrawal from activities or social contact
- Escalation of challenging behaviours
- Loss of trust in carers
- Missed health or safety requirements
These risks show why care plans must respect both preference and need in autism support.
Examples in ASC Care
Example 1:
A young autistic adult needs quiet time after lunch before tackling any demanding task. Staff schedule a 30-minute music listening session in a low-stimulation room before moving on to skill-building activities.
Example 2:
An autistic child thrives on routine with visual cards for each task. Morning activities include breakfast, dressing, and outdoor play, shown in picture form. This matches their wish for clear visual schedules and their need to avoid surprise.
Example 3:
An autistic resident has sensitivity to fluorescent lighting. Evening relaxation is moved to a room lit with soft lamps, matching their sensory needs within the daily schedule.
Final Thoughts
For someone on the autistic spectrum, structure and routine can be more than just organisation. It is a safeguard for emotional stability, a way of reducing anxiety, and a tool for promoting independence. The key is to shape routines so that they match the person’s preferences and support their unique set of needs.
When the plan is consistent, communicated well, and respectful of sensory differences, it can encourage engagement, confidence, and trust. By working together with the person, their family, and the care team, the routine becomes a positive, supportive part of daily life that strengthens wellbeing and comfort.
Subscribe to Newsletter
Get the latest news and updates from Care Learning and be first to know about our free courses when they launch.
