The Autism Infocast
Welcome to The Autism Infocast, your weekly helper for understanding and reacting to autism. Hosted by autistic author Peter J Clark and his team, this popular podcast provides a series of bite-sized episodes packed with autism and neurodivergence insights, ideas, care and support tips, advocacy plans, and ways to improve life for everyone! Whether you're autistic, have autistic loved ones, or you're in a group, a business, healthcare, government, or education, we'll help you demystify autism, bust the myths, and give you simple, practical strategies for communicating, socialising, working, learning, and integrating with the community. Take a few minutes every week to get some fresh thinking, inspiration, and ideas for building more fulfilling and meaningful lives. Tune in to learn, grow, and help build a more inclusive world!
The Autism Infocast
Understanding Meltdowns and Shutdowns in Autism - Why Autistic People Sometimes ‘Just Can’t’
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In this Autism Infocast, we delve into why autistic people sometimes feel completely overwhelmed. You'll learn that intense reactions like meltdowns and shutdowns are not deliberate choices or bad behaviour, but involuntary responses to overload. We cover what these distinct experiences look like, from outward expressions to internalised withdrawal. We'll help you to understand common triggers, such as sensory overload or unexpected changes, and how a cumulative build-up of stress can lead to these moments. We'll give you compassionate, practical strategies for supporting people during and after these profoundly distressing events, fostering empathy and safety over judgment.
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