Autism and the Arts: The Benefits

By guest writer Becky Moody

When people think of autistic individuals with low support needs, they often picture the absent-minded professor or the socially awkward computer genius. However, autism encompasses a wide range of strengths and interests, including talents in the arts. While it’s important to celebrate the achievements of autistic people in STEM fields, it’s equally important to recognize the natural pairing of autism and the arts. Drama, music, and dance not only offer valuable creative outlets for autistic individuals, they create opportunities for personal growth, community connection, and even career.

In this blog post, I will explore the intersections of autism and the arts, showcasing how the performing arts can enrich the lives of autistic individuals.

The Benefits of Performing Arts

There are many people in the performing arts industry who have identified as autistic. Anthony Hopkins, Daryl Hannah, Dan Aykroyd, Chloe Hayden, and Hannah Gadsby are just a handful of prolific autistic performers. However, the many benefits of the performing arts for autistic individuals can be thoroughly enjoyed without ever setting foot on a big-budget Hollywood set, and beautifully, these benefits can continue to serve them even offstage.

Social Connections and Community Building

Performing is a wonderful way to foster social connections and build community. Autistic adults will be right at home in a performing arts class where they are likely to meet other people with similar interests.

For some autistic individuals, human emotions and behavior are special interests. Other autistic individuals may be passionate about movies, television shows, and stage plays. Dramatic arts can be an excellent way to explore these interests.

Performing arts can also teach valuable social skills to autistic adults. Acting requires a person to transport themselves into new situations and understand how their character might interact with other characters in the scene. Practicing these skills can help autistic adults both onstage and in day-to-day social situations.

Improved Self-Confidence and Self-Expression

Autism and the arts can also provide opportunities for improved self-confidence and a safe place to express oneself and make mistakes. Some autistic individuals have found that performing in front of an audience gives them the confidence to do other types of public speaking such as work speeches or class presentations. The confidence gained from speaking in front of an audience can also carry over to other social areas in an autistic person’s life. The right performing arts program can help autistic adults overcome stage fright as well as find their voices.

As someone whose autism also co-occurs with ADHD, I sometimes struggle with impulse control on top of my misinterpretation of social cues. Historically, this has shown up in the form of me telling jokes that might not be appropriate for the setting that I’m in. Telling edgy jokes has also been how I’ve attempted (albeit, not always successfully) to connect with others and show people that I am listening. This is especially true if the joke has something to do with what the other person is speaking about.

Thanks to various acting classes throughout my life, I understand the importance of “knowing one’s audience” when telling jokes in social situations as well as the concept of “punching up” when telling a joke. Acting classes have given me a safe space to let a joke “bomb” and learn why it did without alienating anyone. It’s exciting to see this play out on stage when I do standup comedy at anime conventions where most of my jokes are tailored to my audience. However, it’s equally rewarding when I’ve tailored a joke to the appropriate social setting.

Stress Relief and Emotional Regulation

The arts can also have healing qualities for autistic individuals. Dramatically acting out a situation, for example, can be a wonderfully cathartic way to deal with one’s emotions. Since many autistic adults often struggle with identifying their emotions, performing arts can help provide a safe space to work with and identify different feelings.

If music is involved in the performance, this can also have additional benefits. Autistic individuals respond positively to music and rhythm, and many autistic individuals have a knack for recognizing patterns and tones that others may miss. Playing music, dancing, and singing can be very healing methods for autistic individuals to get in touch with and identify their emotions.

As a dancer, I frequently express myself through music. In many of my performances, I regularly incorporate music that matches whatever character I might be playing. There is nothing more exciting to me than feeling the beat of the music and feeling my whole nervous system light up when I hear certain tones and rhythms. Since sharing music with others is also how I express love, there is something very fulfilling about incorporating my favorite songs into a performance and sharing those songs with my audience.

Enhancement of Executive Functioning

Performing arts can also enhance an autistic individual’s executive functioning skills. Time management, emotional regulation, working memory, and adaptations to change are all examples of executive functioning skills. Autistic individuals may struggle with some or all of these areas of executive functioning to some degree.

As an autistic actress, I speak from experience when I say that few things have enhanced my executive functioning skills quite like performing. After all, I am expected to arrive at each rehearsal being “off-book” (meaning my lines have been memorized). I am also responsible for giving myself ample time between receiving a new script and the rehearsal to memorize my lines.

Improvisation classes in particular can also be fantastic opportunities for autistic adults to develop important executive functioning skills. Improvisational acting requires the ability to think on one’s feet and adapt to unexpected situations, areas that many autistic individuals sometimes struggle with. The Miracle Project hosts a program called Improv for Interaction. This acting group combines autism and the arts in such a way that autistic individuals can learn valuable social skills, coping skills, flexibility, and awareness of themselves and others.

Getting Started with Performing Arts

You may be wondering where to begin with autism and the arts. Whether you’re an autistic thespian looking for a space to call your own, or you want to help your autistic loved one find their voice as a performer, there are plenty of resources available. One place to begin is by looking for a neuro-affirming performing arts group near you.

In addition to the previously mentioned Improv for Interaction groups, The Miracle Project also has many other programs where autistic individuals can learn about expressing themselves through film, theater, and music. These courses foster a safe and inclusive environment for autistic individuals to grow as artists and as individuals.

Final Thoughts on Autism and the Arts

Autistic adults can find healing and confidence through performing arts. Whether you or your autistic loved one is a star in the making or a certified wallflower, performing arts can present many benefits to autistic individuals. Neuro-affirming performing arts programs such as Improv for Interaction can help autistic individuals develop their skills as performers. Through music, drama, and dance, autistic individuals can gain valuable tools to help them shine both on stage and in life.