Following on from our National Autism Awareness month blog, we wanted to give a real, raw look at how Autism effects some of our team in their every day lives - including when gaming!
Last month, we worked with our friends over at Moorview Care to set up a board game social for their clients who have Autism and/or learning disabilities, and now we’re delving into how gaming can help individuals with Autism, how inclusive our gaming community can be in comparison to the general population and some truths about Autism that aren’t spoken about as much, but should be known.
Autism is diagnosed 3 - 5 times more frequently in males vs. females.
Now before we dive in and speak to our Zatu blogging team, we’re very aware that we’re all individuals and what works for one doesn’t work for all, so these are our experiences. They are our realities and we hope some people can relate, some might take a few suggestions from this blog, but we really hope that a lot of people feel seen. People with Autism are often perceived in a certain way before they have a chance to show what incredible humans they really are so if you get anything from this blog, I hope it’s a sense of acceptance, understanding and awareness.
Autism is a part of who I am
Now, in the words of James, let’s get to know some of our neurospicy folk.
More than 1 in 100 people in the UK are autistic and we estimate that within the board game community, that number may be slightly higher. Do we have a slightly higher percentage of people with Autism in the board gaming community? We think so but statistically, who knows. What we do know though is that based on experience, feelings and knowledge of our community, the board game world is more accepting and understanding of Autism and that message right there - acceptance and understanding - is what we want the nation to hear.
Coty: “Rules are what make games exciting. They provide a safe, predictable structure. My wife is even more of a rules follower than I am. One time, I tried to do a sequence of actions slightly out of order (1, 3, 2 instead of 1, 2, 3). She stopped me and said, “Rules make the game fun!” It was a funny moment, but also a deep truth for us
Games kill the awkward silence. They give us a reason to sit together without the pressure of constant small talk. Over time, that shared activity builds trust, the awkwardness fades, and real friendship takes over. It’s given me the courage to actually ask people to hang out, because I know the game will do the heavy lifting for me.
I wish people understood that having autism is often as simple and everyday as being a brunette. It’s a part of who I am, but it isn’t a tragedy or a puzzle to be solved. Stereotypes are hurtful because they ignore how unique we all are. We need to move toward a society that asks instead of assumes. Recently, I was at a learn to play event with a friend who is also autistic and has high social anxiety. As she was counting her score, a gentleman stepped in and started doing it for her. I saw her frustration and had to politely ask him to let her do it herself. The lesson? Society should be kind enough to ask, “Do you need help with your total?” rather than assuming we are incapable. Asking goes a long way.
Accessibility isn’t just about colorblindness; it’s about rulebook clarity. A poorly written or vague rulebook is a massive barrier for someone who relies on logical consistency. If the logic fails, the safe space of the game fails. Whether in the US, the UK, or anywhere else, we need more.”
Each individual, whether they have an Autism diagnosis or not, are exactly that, individual. This campaign was, and will continue to be, an eye-opener for the team here at Zatu and we hope you as a reader will learn something from this too. Whilst some people love the strategic, almost solitary aspects of board games as it takes the pressure off the social side of it, others are the opposite.
Sam: “Co-op games are the best! Marvel Champions is lots of fun because you have to work together as your favourite superheroes to take down the bad guys. There's lots of teamwork involved and you have to plan. We really like Dungeon Crawlers too, Shadows of Brimstone is giant and full of horror, especially Forbidden Fortress. Also we love doing roleplay, D&D and Star Trek are great for coming up with stories together but sometimes it's hard when you're running it and players don't do what you want them to! My favourite new game we've tried is Origin Story though, where you are taking tricks and writing a superhero story that feels just like a comic. Board games are great because they are safe and when everyone knows the rules, everyone can play together.”
Autism and children
Charlotte’s Son has Autism and although most board games are too advanced for him still, he finds another use for them!
“He does play with some board games like toys. He likes to look at the rockets and comets board, working his way up the numbers and naming them. He likes Funny Bunny too as he can push the bunnies through the holes in the board and he finds this fun. He likes looking at Uno cards and Pivot cards and lining them up in order. Even though he can't play according to the rules, some basic children's games are teaching him to play as a whole, how to share, how to count etc, and one day he might be able to play according to the rules. Autism is so different from person to person that we couldn't possibly name a game that's great for autistic people because what's great for one could be awful for another, but as a whole id say anything that has simple and easy to understand instructions, with pictures, is always helpful, as language is often a struggle even into adulthood for many people on the spectrum.”
Luke works in a school and his entire household have an Autism diagnosis or are awaiting assessment. He and his teenage Son enjoy playing games together and they navigate game play and social situations in their own unique ways.
“Board games are a brilliant tool for people with Autism. As a professional in school, I have come to classify games as SLT supporting (Speech and Language) or OT supporting (Sensory and Physical). Games like Mysterium incorporate and facilitate different types of communication. We run a Blood on the Clocktower club, this also encourages types of communication and purposeful hiding of information. Other games, like Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza support more physical challenges like hand-eye coordination and offer sensory input. At a base level, games provide a way to interact socially. With a set of rules that guide interactions making it less direct and easier to manage.”
Charlotte concluded: “As a parent of an autistic child who is on the more severe side of the spectrum... It's something he was born with, it's not bad parenting and it's not misbehaving.
There are so many hidden struggles people don't see... My autistic child doesn't play with his brother like typical siblings play, he can't tell me when he hurts or communicate his emotions, needs, or wants.
Through everything, my autistic son is the sweetest most loveable human being, he's strong, cuddly, and learning all the time. His disability means for me, playing board games is limited, I don't get to play as much as I'd like because I can't play anything whilst he's home without risking destroying the set-up. Gaming as a hobby is hard when you're caring for a child with additional needs. All hobbies are hard when you have a child with additional needs, but we find a way.”
How board games have helped
Imogen: “I love board games because it’s a great focus for autistic special interest, as well as playing the games, it has a collection element which allows for a lot of categorisation and organisation. I find that really soothing and a source of comfort when I feel stressed and want to impose some order. It’s also a fantastic social space where having the focus of a game can take the rough edges off the demands of socialising, particularly if you feel self-conscious or worry about being socially awkward. You also meet lots of like-minded folk, I find board gaming now generally very inclusive. There are also some theories that neurodiverse people sub-consciously find other neurodiverse people (most of my close friends are although we’ve all discovered that at different points over the years) and I suspect that neurodiverse people are probably overrepresented amongst board gamers, because it does feel safe.”
James: “It takes me ages to learn a game because I keep getting distracted but once I've learned it, I've got it in there for life. I'm the social/ambivert type so I love meeting new people and playing games with them.
Like many people with Autism, I have a job which involves staring at a screen all day. Board games give a chance to take a break from the screens and live in the moment. It's hard to narrow down exactly what specific games are good for us neurospicy folk because we’re all so different, but in general, for me, more euros and less social deductions.”
Joe: “Board games have helped with conversation and socialising. My partner feels like there are less eyes directly on her and thus less pressure to be talkative/sociable, and the potential awkward silences are stifled by the fact there is something else to focus on. Games work like a catalyst to the conversation given a free topic at the table, and she can fill the gaps with your more standard affairs like; how's work, I like your hair today, how is you mum?, etc.”
The board gaming community
Imogen: “I find board gaming one of the most inclusive and safe spaces where I can be myself.
Quite often people will describe someone as ‘a little bit autistic’. I wish people would think about who they’re speaking to and not make assumptions. ‘You don’t look/seem autistic’, ‘I’d have never guessed’, ‘You hide it so well’, ‘You’re such a good masker’, ‘Your autism is your superpower’ are not compliments. Inclusive neurodiverse friendly spaces are not special treatment, they’re inclusive for everyone, and that’s what the board gaming community feels like for me.”
James: “I feel like the board game community doesn't need to know or understand more about Autism as it's made up so strongly of those on the spectrum compared to the population at large. The UK population in general should just know that they have to be more patient and that we are trying our best. No one chooses to be autistic and when they take any autie behaviour personally, that says everything about them and nothing about the person on the spectrum they've taken umbrage with.”
Luke: “Awareness and understanding is key. Appreciation of what people might need and how they might feel is key. Those that understand ASC well, can sometimes identify aspects of my presentation and then act accordingly and I can feel at ease saying things like "I'm worried I've upset you" without feeling anxious about it. Obviously not everyone has that understanding but more appreciation would be helpful. The gaming community, however, has such a high population of neurodiverse individuals that I think it is well versed in understanding and supporting people.”
Joe: “It's not less, it's just different. While it's important to recognise Autism as a disability in a society that is (currently) geared in a way that is counter to the lives and experiences of those who have it, it's just a different perspective on life. The board gaming community acts as a little island for those flirting with the 'tism because:
- It's very all welcome. A good chunk of us are on the spectrum so there is a lot of understanding and shared experience.
- Basically every special interest is catered for; Cthulhu, super hero's, trains, spreadsheets, etc.
- It's accessible - people who face challenges around physical ability are not impeded. Likewise, those who prefer to keep themselves inside or just generally prefer a quieter life (ie. those in need of sensory control) are well suited to it.
- It's a free conversation topic for those who might otherwise struggle. Talking about your strategy is easier for some than free form conversations.
- A lot of people with Autism are hard wired for board games. Many Autistics have a heavy preference for logic, problem solving, planning, and following rules and routines. Bonus points as they usually make for the best person to hand the rule book to.”
And to finish this blog, we leave you with some more quotes, exactly the same as our previous blog about Autism. Some powerful quotes from our team that really emphasise why. Why we want to talk about Autism. Why we need to talk about Autism.
“Neurodiversity isn’t a monolith; one autistic person is just that. A lot of autistic traits will be experienced by neurotypical people as well, the experience itself isn’t unique, but the impact of that experience is what makes it debilitating.”
“No one chooses to be autistic and when they take any autie behaviour personally, that says everything about them and nothing about the person on the spectrum they've taken umbrage with.”
“I wish people understood that having autism is often as simple and everyday as being a brunette. It’s a part of who I am, but it isn’t a tragedy or a puzzle to be solved. Stereotypes are hurtful because they ignore how unique we all are. We need to move toward a society that asks instead of assumes. “
