Young adulthood can bring a new morning challenge for people with autism: balancing autonomy with the structure needed to stay on schedule.
Focus on sleep first
“An appropriate sleep schedule is important because if they’re on their phone all night long, then they’re not getting sleep and they’re not going to want to get up,” says Dr. Jannel Phillips, pediatric neuropsychologist at Henry Ford Health. “It really amplifies some of the difficulties that we see in the morning and managing the routine overall.”
Set up the environment for success
Phillips suggests keeping phones outside of the bedroom and using an alarm clock instead of the phone for wake-up time. “We really need to model these behaviors, too, by keeping our phones outside of the room,” she says. These changes reduce the temptation to stay up late and keep the morning from starting behind schedule.
Support independence without constant reminders
When young adults are working toward independence, the goal is shifting responsibility without escalating conflict. “For our young adults, it’s tricky because it’s the nagging that really sets our kids off, and it doesn’t really seem to help.”
Instead, she recommends incentives tied to clear expectations, like “if you’re not going to get up in time, then we’re not going to be able to do X, Y and Z.” Pairing that with a night-before plan can reduce friction and make mornings more predictable.
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Dr. Phillips’ tips to remember:
- Keep morning steps consistent, even on non-school days
- Use written checklists if executive functioning is a challenge
- Build in buffer time for transportation and transitions
This content is sponsored by Henry Ford Health. Learn more about The GROW Center for Autism and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities and The Henry Ford Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities (CADD).
