Autism often impacts three areas of functioning. What are they, and how do they present in autistic individuals?
In honor of Autism Awareness Month this April, we were proud to introduce our team member Russell James (they/them) and share a thoughtful resource they wrote exploring the three core pillars of autism—sensory, social, and executive functioning. In this piece, Russell offers practical, compassionate guidance for fishing guides, outdoor organizations, and the broader angling community on how to better support autistic anglers by fostering more inclusive and understanding spaces on the water.
Now that we understand the three pillars of autism, here are some strategies that guides, organizations, and the broader fishing community can use to better support autistic anglers.
- Sensory –
- Be mindful of factors like noise levels, sunlight, and water temperature to ensure comfort. Offering earplugs or sunglasses as part of the gear might help.
- Social –
- Focus on clear, direct communication and offer one-on-one interactions. Having a calm and patient approach can help make the fishing experience more accessible.
- Executive Functioning –
- Providing a clear structure for the day with a simple itinerary helps individuals stay organized and focused. Offering visual aids (like checklists or maps) might also be helpful for clarity.
- Sensory –
- Highlight the importance of sensory-friendly events or workshops, such as providing specialized equipment for autistic individuals who may need it.
- Social –
- Offer training on how to create more inclusive spaces for autistic anglers, including understanding social cues and building confidence in social fishing environments.
- Executive Functioning –
- Promote organizational tools for fishing trips, such as providing a schedule or guide with visual cues, to assist autistic individuals with planning.
- Sensory –
- Encourage awareness of sensory needs, such as creating quiet, calm environments for fishing or offering fishing areas with fewer distractions.
- Social –
- Create an environment where social expectations are clearly communicated, and where it’s acceptable to fish alone or in smaller groups, allowing for different social preferences.
- Executive Functioning –
- Offer an itinerary and FAQ list that includes all pertinent information such as location, times, and what autists should bring and expect, reduces preparation anxiety.
Russell (they/them) is an autistic fly angler, singer-songwriter based out of Corvallis, OR. They obtained their MA from Webster University and worked as a psychotherapist, focusing on trauma and spiritual healing. They attended the University of New Mexico for their Phd work (incomplete) and focused on humanistic psychology, transpersonal psychology, and ecopsychology. Their special interests include: comic books, nerd culture, birds, and nature.