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Rock-A-Thon
This event was created to bring acceptance and understanding to sensory needs and self-regulation. Most importantly, to normalize stimming.
Step 1-Have your team set a rocking goal (how many hours would you like to rock in the month)
and a donation goal.
-Once your goal is set, please contact the Autism Society by March 20th, 2021 and we will provide
your team with a poster, tracking sheets and donation forms. We will also provide some information
to have at your rocking area so that those participating can learn more about sensory needs and
ASD.
Step 2-Find a rocking chair or 2.
-Make sure your team knows where to find it and how to track their rocking time.
Step 3-Rock for however many hours that you decided during the month of April.
-How your team rocks, is up to you: you can rock an hour a day or hold an event and have several
people rock at once.
and a donation goal.
-Once your goal is set, please contact the Autism Society by March 20th, 2021 and we will provide
your team with a poster, tracking sheets and donation forms. We will also provide some information
to have at your rocking area so that those participating can learn more about sensory needs and
ASD.
Step 2-Find a rocking chair or 2.
-Make sure your team knows where to find it and how to track their rocking time.
Step 3-Rock for however many hours that you decided during the month of April.
-How your team rocks, is up to you: you can rock an hour a day or hold an event and have several
people rock at once.
What is “stimming”?
Stimming or self-stimulation is a coping mechanism Autistic people use to regulate stress, emotions and feelings of being overwhelmed. These actions help a person to calm down or to stay alert, depending on their needs. It is a repetitive movement, vocalization, tactile or auditory input.
Stimming can be rocking, twirling, hand flapping, toe tapping, humming or even repeating words or phrases. These actions allow an individual to regulate their central nervous system, decrease stress and to maintain focus. Autistic people are often told to suppress their stims or to stop them all together. This can cause a person to shut down or meltdown, greatly causing un-needed anxiety and forcing them to remain in a heightened level of stress.
We all self-regulate and provide our body and mind with the input it needs to function. Clicking your pen while you’re working, shaking your leg while sitting in a meeting, deep breaths, hair twirling. However, when a person’s needs are greater, they require a greater amount of stimulation to achieve the same goal. It is our job to make sure they have the ability to do so safely and without prejudice.
The goal of the Rock A Thon is to educate people about the differing sensory needs of people and to normalize stimming. Everyone deserves to have access to the tools they need to succeed.
