Social Events & Meeting People Resource Collection

Examples: bowling, playing board games, basketball, museum trip, cooking class, or amusement park outing.

Examples include reading, walking, video games, and swimming.

If you have questions about the group or event, contact the group/event
coordinator if you need or want more details (such as the approximate
number of attendees and parking accommodations).

• • Do you feel comfortable going to this place?
  • What is the place like during the time of day and day of the week for the event?

• • Can you afford to do the activity and still pay your bills?
    • Be honest with yourself regarding your budget.

Having money for emergencies is important too.

• • Having money for emergencies is important too.
  • Do you have a transportation plan for both ways?
    • Do you have a backup plan in case you need or want to leave early?
    • Make sure someone knows where you’re going and when you plan to return, (especially if you don’t have a support person with you).

• • Plan your outfit ahead of time. Check the weather and try to get an idea of how casual or formal the event will be.
    • Look online to see if the dress code is listed in the event information. If it’s not online, call the event coordinator or ask your support person what they are going to wear.

• • This might help you feel more confident at the event. It also might prevent you from comparing yourself to others or worrying what others think of you/your appearance.

• • Be careful with how much perfume or cologne you are wearing; too much can be overwhelming!
  • Remember, taking a shower ahead of time can be helpful in terms of making sure body odor is in check.

• • Washing your hair while showering in the morning of or the night before the event can make it easier to style your hair.

• • Brush your teeth and make sure you don’t have anything in your
    teeth prior to the event.

• • Wear/bring shoes that fit the occasion.
  • Wear/bring a jacket if you get cold easily.
  • Make sure you have any fidget toys or other small objects you might want to use when stimming.
  • Bring anything else you may need or want when going to an event (cell phone, water, medicine, wallet/money).

• • Example: maybe you want to learn a new skill, such as crocheting if this event is for a crocheting club.

• • Example: Maybe your goal is to meet new people, find a new hobby, or challenge yourself in social situations.

• • Rely on your strengths when meeting new people.
    • Example: Be kind to everyone there, ask lots of questions, and make sure people notice you’re interested by listening, nodding along, asking follow up questions.

The ways that you perceive taste, sound, smell and touch could be more sensitive to you than it is for other people.

Example: a crowded meeting room with multiple people talking could be more overwhelming and confusing to you than other people who don’t have your sensory issues.

Self-stimulating behaviors can be a repetitive movement  or vocalization that is thought to be self calming.

There are both positives and negatives associated with stimming. It can be calming to individuals in many settings. However, it can also be embarrassing or stigmatizing depending the context or people around.

Introducing yourself or joining a conversation, missing social cues to see if a person is interested or uninterested, and difficulty focusing or staying on topic are all common.

These are a few of the ways in which social difficulties can make it harder to meet new people.

It can be confusing to know whose turn it is to speak and when to listen.

• • It can be confusing to know whose turn it is to speak and when to listen.
    • It can also be frustrating waiting your turn to contribute to the conversation.
    • It can also be easy to space out or lose your place in the conversation.
      • Staying on topic can also be an issue because it’s easy to get distracted and think about something that others may not associate with the conversation.

Having uncommon hobbies or interests can make it harder for others to connect or to keep your audience engaged.

Researching common interests beforehand could be helpful in connecting to others.

Wearing either outfits that are old, outdated, or inappropriate for the occasion/weather can be uncomfortable.

It can be confusing or overwhelming to figure out what to wear to each occasion and how to adapt it to your sensory needs.

Sometimes it can be hard to find things in common with strangers.

Using common conversational starters like the weather, entertainment, family, sports, or current news can be good ways to find common interests that you share.

Overthinking past experiences can make it hard to form new impressions or be open to new experiences.

Those experiences can make doing new things or meeting new people very stressful or anxiety-provoking.

Going to an event or social occasion can involve many changes that occur quickly.

It can be difficult to adjust to different details than had previously been discussed.