This past weekend I went on a date with Alex who has been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. Due to the nature of Asperger’s, Alex usually has a very scheduled week and enjoys little variation in any plan. In order to accommodate this, we had to plan this date two weeks in advance to ease into the idea that his routine would be disrupted for a day. In order to keep him as calm and relaxed as possible we planned to do a variety of things that were very familiar to him. Alex enjoys studying and learning about different cultures from around the globe and Fernbank Museum has an exhibit called Reflections of Culture that I thought he would enjoy. After we experienced Fernbank we went to grab a bite at Rolly Poly just down the street. Every Saturday, Alex enjoys a pesto chicken sandwich from the sandwich shop, so I thought he would enjoy sticking to his favorite Saturday cuisine. After dinner I thought we could enjoy some gelato because of Alex’s extreme interest in other cultures so we ventured to Paolo’s Gelato Italiano. The following post details how we adapted the date to accommodate a fun time while respecting how Asperger’s affects Alex.
Accessibility
At the
Fernbank we were able to easily move through the exhibit. They use very open
floor space to exhibit many different cultures which helped put Alex at ease.
He does not enjoy closed off spaces and likes to be able to see exit signs
wherever he is. The museum has exit signs and directions to exits on several
walls throughout the exhibit. This allowed more time for Alex to look at the
different displays because he felt at ease. Walking through
the museum was also very good for him. Alex likes to count his steps and be
able to carry a notebook to record his steps. Fernbank allowed him to bring in
his notebook for recording notes and he made sure to count each step between
exhibits.
The large walkway
towards the doors at Fernbank, allowed Alex to choose his own way to walk up to
the door. He does not like to be forced to choose a path and likes to create
his own.
Activity
Fernbank
displayed many beautiful headpieces from several of Alex’s favorite cultures.
He was better than the museum tour guide because he explained each and every
piece and the meaning behind those pieces. He also felt compelled to record a
lot of details in his journal that he brought along. After we finished with the
exhibit we were able to walk through other parts of the museum but made sure to
avoid the children’s area because Alex does not like over stimulation and
children can be quite loud and over stimulating.
Adaptability
When we got
to Rolly Poly, the table that Alex usually sits at was dirty. I quickly saw
that it was starting to make him upset because he always sits at the same table
and did not like the idea of switching to a new one. I asked an employee if I
could clear it, and instead the employee took care of it.
Comfort
Once
we had our sandwiches and Alex was seated at his favorite table, he was able to
discuss his favorite parts of the exhibit. The reason why Alex liked this table
was because it allowed him to see the exit. 
Control
The
employees thankfully were understanding when Alex went on a slight rant about
his table and he was still able to express his frustration. He understood that
the restaurant is not his and has to serve others as well.
Crowding
The only
place that presented an issue of cramped space was Paolo’s Gelato. The building
was very crowded and you end up standing pretty close to others while waiting
to order. Alex did not like this part so he asked for a menu and walked outside
to read it.
Meaning
Alex really
enjoyed the thought behind getting gelato because he really enjoys the Italian
culture. For him it felt as a real life appreciation for Italy.
Sensory
Stimulation
The place
that had the most applicable stimulation for Alex was the museum exhibit. This
is because of his fascination with worldly cultures he felt as though he was
being stimulated and enjoyed being able to experience the exhibit.
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