Boundaries are protective, not punitive: supporting Autistic people
By Helen Edgar and David Gray-Hammond · From the Re-Storying Autism workbook, Module 6
When we talk about boundaries, we are not talking about discipline and a list of rules. Autistic boundaries are about sensory needs and relational connections and flexiblity. Some examples of boundaries may include: - Needing to be alone after school / work or a family event - Needing predictability - Needing to stim freely - Needing to avoid certain textures or sounds - Needing time to warm up to a conversation - Needing slower transitions - Needing clear expectations - Needing fewer demands - Needing control over sensory environments Honouring these boundaries is not enabling avoidance; it is supporting their regulation. Boundaries are the infrastructure of safety; without them, Autistic people become chronically overwhelmed, and trauma deepens, which can lead to burnout and mental health difficulties.
Keep going in the course
This is a short extract. The full lesson in Module 6: Trauma, Safety and the Emotional Environment includes the video teaching, the rest of the workbook text, reflection questions for parents, carers and Autistic people, and progress tracking.