Healthcare Workers

1. Involve Family and Caregivers Early

• Invite caregivers to appointments, procedures, and treatment planning.

• Ask caregivers about the patient’s communication style, sensory triggers, and calming strategies.

• Use caregivers as partners who can explain behaviors, interpret distress, and help the patient feel safe.

​

2. Reduce Sensory Overload

• Offer quiet waiting areas or allow the patient to wait in the car until their appointment.

• Dim lights, reduce noise, and limit unnecessary physical contact.

• Explain upcoming sounds, smells, or sensations before they happen.

​

3. Provide Predictability and Structure

• Keep the same staff members whenever possible.

• Use visual schedules, step‑by‑step explanations, or written instructions.

• Warn the patient ahead of time about any changes in rooms, routines, or procedures.

​

4. Communicate Clearly and Flexibly

• Use simple, direct language without metaphors.

• Give extra processing time before expecting a response.

• Allow alternative communication methods (writing, gestures, AAC devices).

​

5. Adapt Treatment Plans to Individual Needs

• Adjust treatment delivery methods if sensory issues make certain procedures difficult.

• Schedule appointments at times when the patient is least likely to be overwhelmed.

• Ask caregivers what the patient’s “normal” behavior looks like so providers can recognize pain or side effects.

​

6. Train Healthcare Workers in Neurodiversity‑Informed Care

• Provide training on autism, sensory needs, and communication differences.

• Teach staff how to collaborate with caregivers and how to recognize masked symptoms.

• Encourage empathy and patience as core skills in oncology care.

​

7. Build a Supportive, Respectful Environment

• Validate the patient’s needs instead of dismissing them as “difficult behavior.”

• Encourage caregivers to share cultural or religious factors that may affect treatment.

• Treat autistic patients as equal partners in their care, even if they need support to participate.