A social enterprise helping people on the autistic spectrum and the people around them.
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4 Conversation techniques to add to your social script
Posted: 9 months ago
Many autistic people create for themselves a 'social script' to help them know how to interact in social situations. A social script is a guide for planning what to do and say inside a social setting.
The Girl With The Curly Hair uses a social script whenever she meets up with her friends. Specifically, she uses 4 conversation techniques:
10 Ways to find motivation to do a task
Posted: September 26, 2024
Autistic people can sometimes lack the motivation to do tasks. They may be easily distracted, find it hard to concentrate, or not wish to prioritise a task that they consider is unimportant or that does not interest them. However, whether we like it or not, at some point all of us have to do menial… Join The Curly Hair Project Community Today This article and our podcasts are available only to members of our community. If you would like to continue to read this article, along with…
The Patterns Theory
Posted: September 2, 2024
Like many autistic people, I like things to be ‘right.’ I like things to be done perfectly and accurately. I focus on small details and insist they are correct. Although there are instances when this way of being is useful (such as in science and maths), there are also instances when it is hindering (such… Join The Curly Hair Project Community Today This article and our podcasts are available only to members of our community. If you would like to continue to read th…
What is Anticipatory Anxiety?
Posted: August 10, 2024
Anticipatory anxiety is a known condition where a person experiences increased levels of anxiety by thinking about an event or situation in the future. In neurotypical people, anticipatory anxiety is often caused by negative thinking. They might worry that the worst is going to happen in a forthcoming situation. Autistic people can be prone to… Join The Curly Hair Project Community Today This article and our podcasts are available only to members of our community. If you…
What problems did The Girl With The Curly Hair encounter during the Nature Walk?
Posted: July 19, 2024
The Girl With The Curly Hair had just started at secondary school. The school had arranged for the students to go to an activity park for a few days so that they could get to know each other. One of the activities they participated in was the ‘Nature Walk’, which involved exploring the natural habitats… Join The Curly Hair Project Community Today This article and our podcasts are available only to members of our community. If you would like to continue to read this a…
Managing weak working memory
Posted: June 26, 2024
Working memory is one of the brain’s executive functions. It is a metaphorical bucket inside the brain that holds information temporarily in order to assist us in completing a task or thinking through an idea. The information is held only very briefly and then it goes away after a few seconds or when a person… Join The Curly Hair Project Community Today This article and our podcasts are available only to members of our community. If you would like to continue to read this…
The importance of ‘processing time’
Posted: June 2, 2024
Yesterday I received a text message asking whether I could do something the following day. I read the message and then carried on with my day. Although I knew I was going to say “yes”, I didn’t reply until the evening. I refer to the time between reading the message and responding to it as… Join The Curly Hair Project Community Today This article and our podcasts are available only to members of our community. If you would like to continue to read this article,…
10 Strategies for improving sleep
Posted: April 5, 2024
Good sleep is talked about a lot these days and there is much advice for everyone on the subject. However, autistic people may have other, more specific problems like sensory challenges, lack of body awareness or staying awake due to worrying. In this article I have reflected upon 10 strategies that have helped me to… Join The Curly Hair Project Community Today This article and our podcasts are available only to members of our community. If you would like to continue to read th…
Understanding your autism can really help you
Posted: March 13, 2024
In the film, ‘A Day in the University Placement Year for The Girl With The Curly Hair’, The Girl With The Curly Hair is 21 years old. She has not yet been diagnosed with autism. Although she seems to have some awareness of her needs, she doesn’t realise her needs are because of her autism…. Join The Curly Hair Project Community Today This article and our podcasts are available only to members of our community. If you would like to continue to read this article,…
Why is information confusing for autistic people but not neurotypical people?
Posted: February 18, 2024
Autistic people often feel “confused” about information that is quite clear to neurotypical people. Why is this? A neurotypical person’s brain works differently. They can interpret a message, and even if the message is a little unclear, they can still understand what it means quite quickly. They have the ability to understand information even if… Join The Curly Hair Project Community Today This article and our podcasts are available only to members of our c…
10 Ways for autistic people to improve their concentration
Posted: January 25, 2024
Some autistic people have difficulty concentrating. In particular, they may find it difficult to pay attention to and concentrate on things that don’t interest them! This is part of the autism condition. Additionally, it is common for autistic people to struggle with executive function. Concentration is a part of executive function. Some autistic people also have… Join The Curly Hair Project Community Today This article and our podcasts are available only to m…