Dressing can be a very complicated task for children with autism. First of all, make sure that the child knows where the clothing is. They can find their T-shirts here, their socks here, and their underwear here. This helps them to be very independent. Now, the process of dressing itself, for example, putting on pants, if the child has issues with balance, that can be a major struggle. To eliminate that, they can sit while they're putting on their pants.

Another thing that children have difficulties with is motor planning. They know what they need to do but initiating that plan can be very difficult. Have a visual schedule with pictures of the different processes that need to take place for putting on their pants. You can have a picture showing a child threading one leg in and then the other one, or you can have a visual list of things that need to be done: put my T-shirt on, put my pants on, put my socks on. Orientation is another big one. How to put my T-shirt on? I put it on, the front is in the back, the head is through the arms. This can be hard for children.

Start with graphic T-shirts that will tell them the picture goes at the front. Let them know the tag always sits on their neck and then it will help them with the whole process. When they're putting their shoes on, you can put arrows in their shoes or use their name inside their shoes. If the child's name is Jason, you can put "JA" in one shoe and then "SON" in the other one. It will help them with orienting the shoes correctly.

One of the biggest helpers in dressing is chaining, and it can be backward or forward. Chaining is a process where parts of the task are completed by the parent as a means of modeling for the child. For example, in putting on a T-shirt, you will say, "OK, put it over the head, put the left arm in, then the right arm in, and then you pull it down." While you're doing that, you're talking through the process. So, then the next time you bring the T-shirt, you start with doing the steps initially and then you phase yourself out for the child to follow. They already know the different steps because you have been doing it with them.

When teaching your child how to dress independently, it is critical for their clothing not to be too tight. Make sure that there's room in it so that the child can manipulate it properly. Buttons and zippers present a challenge for children that have fine motor skills issues. Having the ability to hold them together can be difficult and can create frustration. There are clothing options that do not have them. We use those. When choosing shoes, try not to have laces. Try those with Velcro. It is easier.

Try not to engage in a power struggle. If it's wintertime, you know that they need long pants. Prepare that beforehand. Put two pairs of pants there, a red one and a green one. They are well protected, and it does not matter which color they choose. You want them to wear gloves, but then you give them choices. They put the gloves on. It doesn't matter what color they have on; they are dressed for the weather, and everybody is OK.

Tips on helping children with autism learn to get dressed:

• Organize Clothing: Ensure the child knows where their clothing is located to promote independence.
• Balance Issues: If the child has balance issues, they can sit while putting on pants.
• Motor Planning: Use a visual schedule with pictures or a list of steps for dressing tasks.
• Orientation: Start with graphic T-shirts to help the child understand the front and back. Use tags and arrows for shoes.
• Chaining: Use backward or forward chaining to model the dressing process and gradually phase out assistance.
• Clothing Fit: Ensure clothing is not too tight to allow for easier manipulation.
• Avoid Buttons and Zippers: Choose clothing without buttons and zippers if the child has fine motor skills issues.
• Velcro Shoes: Opt for shoes with Velcro instead of laces.
• Choices: Offer choices to avoid power struggles, such as selecting between two pairs of pants or gloves.