Ice breakers for in-person autism workshop

[DiddlyKnot]

Hello!

Does anyone have any fun games/ ice breakers for an in-person workshop about autism?

They should be engaging and informative but light hearted too!

What about asking everyone to give examples of sayings which could be confusing to people who take things very literally? So "can you give this a quick once over" or "it's ok you can stand down on that"

A friend who has autism finds sayings like these very confusing!

I'm a trainer and do a lot of neurodiversity training, including autism (I'm AuDHD). People love a bit of competition so I usually do a mythbusters quiz and have a prize for the winners which is usually chocolate and inevitably gets shared around the whole group during the day.

I hate icebreakers with a passion so never do them!

I will call in sick rather than do an icebreaker!!

I think that posters are right that you should make sure that any neurodiverse person in the room is comfortable with whatever you choose to do. My DS would not be comfortable with the water jug thing or the shouting random things out thing.

The reason I suggested giving them something difficult, awkward and embarrassing was so they could experience something approaching an insight into how an autistic person might feel if given an 'ice-breaker' task to do.

I hate ice breakers. Uncomfortable and stupid. I'd be getting on with the matter at hand. Guess I am not with the times.

@DiddlyKnot what did you do in the end? How was the workshop?

This is probably too late but honestly I would just do a quiz. It shows people gaps in their own knowledge and gets them curious. And not everyone has to take part