• Autism
  • About Us
  • Ways to Give
    • Participate
      • Toys R Us Canada Play packs
      • World Autism Month
        • Meet Brooklyn, Olivia and Dorian from British Columbia
        • Meet Corey from British Columbia
        • Meet Emma from Ontario
        • Meet Graham from Alberta
        • Meet Joanne from PEI
        • Meet Kane from NWT
        • Meet Leo from Saskatchewan
        • Meet Nicole from Ontario
        • Meet Ronin from Newfoundland and Labrador
        • Meet Sarah from Manitoba
        • Meet Shawna from New Brunswick
        • Meet Thomas and Ariana from Quebec
      • Autism Speaks Canada Walk
        • marchons
        • Current and Past Ambassadors
      • Autism Speaks Canada bubly Smile Day
      • Autism Speaks Canada Virtual Dog Walk & Auction
      • Game On with Autism Speaks Canada
      • Giving Tuesday
      • Facebook Fundraisers
      • Fundraise Your Way
      • Team Up!
      • One-Time Gifts
      • Monthly Giving
      • Honour Someone Special
      • Support an Event Participant
      • Birthdays with Echoage
      • Estate and Tax Smart Giving
      • Donate a Car
    • Become a Partner
      • Meet Our Partners
        • Gifted Canada
        • Vancouver Foundation
        • McConnell Foundation
        • Azrieli Foundation
        • Scentsy Canada
        • Samsung Canada
        • Randstad
        • Metrocon Ready Mix Corp.
        • PepsiCo
        • dentalcorp
        • Cadillac Fairview
        • Cherry Hill
        • ToysRUs/BabiesRUs
        • Equitable Life of Canada
        • Wise Family Foundation
        • Cineplex
        • Kernels
        • NFP
        • Bank of Montreal
        • A Buyer's Choice
        • Echoage
        • Donate a Car
        • Canadian Heritage - Government of Canada
        • Globe Meats Fresh Market and Grill
        • Nutrience
      • Cash and In-Kind Donations
      • Cause Related Marketing
      • Corporate Teams
      • Event Hosting
      • Matching Gifts
      • Sponsorship
      • Corporate Volunteering
      • Workplace Giving
    • Volunteer
      • Volunteer Stories
    • Merchandise
  • Science, Services & Supports
    • Pandemic Canadian Autism Needs Assessment Results
    • COVID-19 Information and Resources by our Autism Response Team
      • Families & Caregivers Looking for Children Resources
      • Adults on the Spectrum Looking for Resources
      • Virtual Events for Everyone
      • Other Useful Links for Everyone
      • Surveys
    • Science
      • Science News
      • Grant Search
      • Apply for Grants or Fellowships
      • MSSNG
      • Autism Treatment Network
        • ATN@Work
      • Participate In Research
        • Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship in Developmental Pathways in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
        • Caring for the Caregiver
        • Kids Brain Health Network
        • Family Participation in Research
        • It Takes Brains
        • Interactive Autism Network
        • Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
        • University of Toronto
        • York University
      • Science Blogs
      • Science Digest
        • Spring 2018
    • Family Services
      • Family Services Community Grants
        • FSCG Grant Review Volunteers
      • Family Services Special Targeted Initiatives Grants
        • Integrated Services for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders (ISAND)
        • Pacific Autism Family Network (PAFN)
      • Family Services Partnerships
        • Family Services Community Grants
        • Tablet Program
        • Sensory Friendly Screenings
        • Sensory Friendly Santa – Enjoy a Virtual Visit with Santa!
      • Worktopia
    • Resources
      • Apps
      • Technology Central
      • Going Out to Eat
      • Health & Wellness
      • Bullying
      • Wandering
      • Templates for Personalized Teaching Stories
      • Community Connections
      • My Job Chart
      • Resource Library
      • Glossary of Terms
      • Accessing Government Services
      • Your Religious Community
    • ASC Connect
  • News, Media Request & Contact Us
    • News
      • News
        • Introducing Walk Call Centre Team: Meet Adam, Benoit & Mark
        • Autism Speaks Canada Board Update
        • Autism Speaks, Autism Speaks Canada and SickKids announce Wise Family Foundation's commitment of $3.5M to support autism research
        • Autism Speaks Canada joins disability groups calling for priority access to COVID vaccine for people with autism
        • Autism Speaks Canada's statement about the Alek Minassian case and its misrepresentation of autism
        • ASC, CASDA, and MacART come together to present the Pandemic Canadian Autism Needs Assessment Survey Report
        • SickKids researchers find new genes and variations linked to autism using Autism Speaks' MSSNG data
        • Toys R Us Canada in partnership with Autism Speaks Canada is proud to launch discounted play packs
        • Olivier, Our Dog Walk Ambassador Is in the News
        • Covid-19, We Are in This Together
        • Advocates and researchers discuss solutions to reduce autism health care disparities
        • Justin Trudeau Announces Endorsement for Development of a National Autism Strategy
        • Join Us in Creating a Brighter Life on the Spectrum
        • Media Advisory: Trudeau Is Only Major Party Leader Not Committed To A National Autism Strategy
        • Large family-based study finds 80 percent of autism risk is from inherited genes
        • Autism Speaks Canada is excited to announce their new partnership with MKM group and Shattered Dreams Esports
        • Autism Speaks awards more than $4.7 million for autism research
        • Autism Speaks Canada is excited to announce their new partnership with bubly sparkling water beverage
        • Six Autism Speaks studies on 2018 list of top advances in autism
        • Senator Munson's Visit to McMaster May 21, 2019
        • Community Connections Inspire Samsung Canada and Autism Speaks Canada
        • Autism Speaks Canada's annual Walk comes to Waterloo this Sunday
        • Autism Speaks Canada's annual Walk comes to Toronto
        • Autism Speaks' MSSNG project reaches 10,000-genome milestone
        • The Canada Council for the Arts Reveals the 2019 Killam Program Winners
        • Light It up Blue With Autism Speaks Canada
        • Response to the Ontario Autism Program (OAP)
        • DNAstack and Autism Speaks® Announce Collaboration to Accelerate Scientific Discovery on One of the World's Largest Autism Genome Databases
        • Autism Speaks launches $1.5 million funding opportunity for treatment studies
        • Whole genome sequencing reveals new type of genetic influence on autism
        • Understanding the 2018 National Autism Spectrum Disorder Surveillance System (NASS) Report
        • Autism Speaks releases new strategic plan for science
        • World's largest autism genome databank adds more than 2,000 sequences
        • Support Rooted in Desire to Improve Lives
        • Samsung Canada, Silken Laumann and Autism Speaks Canada Invite Canadians to Learn the Love Spectrum
        • Your ATN@Work: Treating anxiety in children and teens with autism
        • Your ATN@Work: Recognizing anxiety in children and teens with autism
        • Expanding Service Options for Children and Youth with Autism
        • Tracing autism's trajectories could help explain its diversity
        • Gathering MSSNG Insights on Autism
        • Thomas Frazier to join Autism Speaks as Chief Science Officer
        • Study Aims to Crack Autism Code
        • Ontario Ombudsman has released the report, Nowhere to Turn
        • The Autism World: Choosing In
        • The Government of Canada wants your input as they develop accessibility legislation
        • The University of Windsor is looking for fathers across Canada
        • Autism Speaks MSSNG study expands understanding of autism's complex genetics.
        • Choices Markets to Host Fundraiser to Raise Awareness and Funds for Autism Speaks Canada
        • The Sinneave Family Foundation and Autism Speaks Canada Partner With Organizations Across Canada to Improve Employment Futures for Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder
        • Ontario Providing More Supports For Children With Autism
        • Autism Speaks ATN/AIR-P researchers present studies at IMFAR
        • More than 5,000 whole genome sequences now available for research into autism subtypes and personalized treatments
        • Spokesperson for the Minister answers FAQ's regarding Ontario Autism Program
        • Giving children roots and wings: the struggle to understand autism.
        • Information for families about changes to autism services for children & youth
        • Ontario Budget Announcement
        • Ontario government announces new Ontario Autism Program with investment of $333 million over the next five years
        • 'Aging Out': What happens when children with ASD get older?
        • PBS NewsHour Looks at MSSNG Genome Project
        • New Canada-U.S. Partnership Paves the Way for International Collaborations in Autism Research
        • Autism Speaks Launches MSSNG Portal for Open-Access Genomics Research
        • Choices Markets to Host Fundraiser to Raise Awareness and Funds for Autism Speaks Canada
        • Kinetic Sand Teams Up with Autism Speaks to Raise Awareness
        • Learning to better understand autism spectrum disorder
        • 2014 Family Services Community Grants Announcement
        • Cineplex and Autism Speaks to offer Sensory Friendly Screenings
        • Diversity in Developmental Trajectories in Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder
        • Largest genome sequencing study finds surprises: siblings' autism may have different genetic causes
COVID-19 Information and Resources
  • EN
    • FR
  • A A
  • Accessibility
  • Donate Now
 
Autism Speaks EN Autism Speaks EN
  • Autism
  • About Us
  • Ways to Give
  • Science, Services & Supports
  • News, Media Request & Contact Us
  1. Home
  2. Science, Services & Supports
  3. Resources
  4. Going Out to Eat
  • Pandemic Canadian Autism Needs Assessment Results
  • COVID-19 Information and Resources by our Autism Response Team
  • Science
  • Family Services
  • Resources
    • Apps
    • Technology Central
    • Going Out to Eat
    • Health & Wellness
    • Bullying
    • Wandering
    • Templates for Personalized Teaching Stories
    • Community Connections
    • My Job Chart
    • Resource Library
    • Glossary of Terms
    • Accessing Government Services
    • Your Religious Community
  • ASC Connect

COVID-19 Information and Resources

Going Out to Eat

Going out to eat at a restaurant can be difficult for any family, but especially for families of individuals with autism. This page was designed to provide you with tips and resources to help make dining out a successful and enjoyable experience for everyone!

What Would You Do?
Things to Do Before You Go Out to Eat
Tips for Dining Out
Autism Speaks Topic of the Week
Skills to Consider
Resources
Visual Supports

What Would You Do?

On Friday, April 13th, the episode of ABC's What Would You Do? featured Lisa Goring, Autism Speaks Vice President of Family Services, and her son Andrew, 15. During the segment, actors playing a family of four, including a boy with autism, were eating in a restaurant, as the cameras looked to capture the responses of fellow customers to behaviours displayed by the boy.

Things to Do Before You Go Out to Eat

One successful strategy when dealing with an unfamiliar routine is to prepare the individual ahead of time. Preparation can greatly reduce anxiety in unfamiliar environments and helps a person know what to expect.

Take time to plan and prepare for going out to eat by considering the following questions: 

- Where are you going?
- Is it an over-stimulating environment?
- Has the individual been there before?
- How long will you have to wait for a seat?
- What time of day are you going?
- Can you make a reservation?
- What types of (favourite) foods do they serve?
- Can you print the menu out at home?
- Have you marked the event as special on the calendar?

Taking Your Autistic Child to a Restaurant: Tips on Dining Out for Families Living with Autism

Do you avoid eating out because you have a child with autism, and it's just too stressful to take him to a restaurant? In this article, SheKnows Parenting provides some tips to help you avoid some common headaches when dining out at a restaurant with an autistic child.

Autism Speaks Topic of the Week: Dining Out and Autism

In May of 2011, we asked the following question on our blog: The idea of dining out for a person with autism is often daunting. How do you prepare yourself or your child for going to a restaurant? Can you share some positive/negative dining experiences? What strategies do you employ to ensure the best experience possible for you and your family?

Here are some tips we received from families in the Autism Speaks community:

"My son is 16 and has PDD-NOS. We have always taken him and his 14 year old brother (who has ADHD) out to restaurants with few problems. Major chains have their menus on their websites, which helps to plan ahead." 

"We’ve also found that sitting at booths with windows looking out helps!"

"A relationship with the wait staff really helps. At my son’s favourite places, they know what he wants walking through the door. He is served promptly, with personalized attention and like anyone else, responds positively."

"Another “hint” for those of you with Teens on the spectrum. I use “dining out” as a tool for teaching my kiddos to advocate. Since mostly I and they want something customized from the regular menu, this teaches them that it is okay to ask for special stuff and how to do it politely as well as pay for it. I make my teens figure out tips at the end of the meals. :) Good stuff all around."

"Things I keep on hand to avoid meltdowns: 1. Bag of snack foods: carrots etc. 2. Fidget toys, 3. Visual cue cards." 

Click here to read the rest of responses we got from our Topic of the Week.

Skills to Consider

This list of important skills to consider when going out to eat with your child with autism was compiled by Nassau Suffolk Services for Autism. *Note: You will need to tailor these based upon your child's abilities.

Waiting
   Waiting to order food
   Waiting for food to arrive
   Waiting after for everyone else to finish eating

Ordering Food
   Making a food choice
   Ordering a meal
   Speaking at an appropriate volume
   Appropriate language to order food

Sitting Appropriately
   In the absence of non contextual vocalizations
   In the absence of any inappropriate body movements
   Sitting in an upright position
   Keeping hands down

Eating Appropriately/Table Manners 
   Pace of eating
   Using utensils
   Using a napkin
   Chewing with mouth closed

Social Skills
   Having a conversation at the dinner table
   Using excuse me, please, and thank you
   Commenting on food choice
   Accepting a denied request if food choice is unavailable

Other Skills
   Using a public restroom

Resources

The New Social Story Book
by Carol Gray
"A Social Story™ describes a situation, skill, or concept in terms of relevant social cues, perspectives, and common responses in a specifically defined style and format. The goal of a Social Story™ is to share accurate social information in a patient and reassuring manner that is easily understood by its audience. Half of all Social Stories™ developed should affirm something that an individual does well. Although the goal of a Story™ should never be to change the individual’s behaviour, that individual’s improved understanding of events and expectations may lead to more effective responses."

Click here to visit The Gray Center website, and learn more about Carol Gray's Social Stories. 

Social Story App: Pictello
Pictello is a simple way to create talking photo albums and talking books. Each page in a Pictello Story can contain a picture, up to five lines of text, and a recorded sound or text-to-speech using high-quality voices. Pictello is developed for all ages and skill levels, so it is easy to use and requires no reading skills to locate and read stories. Pictello offers an easy visual story creation wizard so everyone can use pictures and sound to share important moments in their lives. Pictello is a universal app and can, without extra costs, be used on iPhone, iPod touch and iPad!
itunes.apple.com (Cost: $18.99)

Visual Supports

Using visual supports during a meal has many benefits. It can reduce anxiety and makes the activity less overwhelming. Visual supports provide a visual representation of what is going to happen throughout an activity, breaking it down into steps that can be understood by the person.

An example of a visual schedule that can be used for an eating out activity- Display steps in a restaurant routine:
1. Waiting to be seated
2. Ordering my food
3. Waiting for my food to arrive
4. Getting ready to leave the restaurant 

Visual Supports and Autism Spectrum Disorders
A tool kit from the Autism Treatment Network that introduces parents, caregivers, and professionals to visual supports and provides instruction on how to use them in everyday activities, schedules and tasks. The tool kit provides actual visual supports for parents to print, cut out and use, along with links to resources that provide more detailed information for those who want to go further. Anyone can download the Visual Supports and Autism Spectrum Disorder Tool Kit for free here.

Visual Supports Apps
Model Me Kids: Going Places
Model Me Going Places™ is a great visual teaching tool for helping your child learn to navigate challenging locations in the community. Each location contains a photo slide show of children modeling appropriate behaviour. 6 locations: Hairdresser, Mall, Doctor, Playground, Grocery Store and Restaurant.
Cost: Free

First Then Visual Schedule
First-Then visual schedule application is designed for caregivers to provide positive behaviour support. For individuals with communication needs, developmental delays, Autism or those who benefit from a structured environment; visual schedules serve to increase independence and lower anxiety during transitions through different activities.
Cost: $9.99

Do you have any other tips for families, or would you like to share your dining out experiences with us? We would love to hear from you! Email us at support@autismspeakscan.ca.ca.

 

 

Technology Central
 
Resource Library
 
Community Grants
 
Heart of Autism
 
Autism Apps
 
Autism & Epilepsy
 
Wandering Resource
 
My Job Chart
 
Tool Kits
 
Autism Safety Project
 
Your Religious Community 
 
Non-English Resources
 
Military Families
 
Combating Bullying
 
Going Out to Eat
 
Templates for Personalized Teaching Stories
Special Targeted Initiatives Grants Health & Wellness Video Glossary  

 

Contact Us
  • 2450 Victoria Park Avenue, Unit 400
    Toronto, ON M2J 4A2
  • Local: 416-362-6227
  • Toll Free: 1-888-362-6227
  • Fax: 416-362-6228
  • About
  • ASC Connect
  • Get Involved
  • Science, Services & Resources
  • Ways to Give
  • News
  • Media Request & Contact Us
Our Partners
Nutrience
Globe Meats Fresh Market and Grill
Canadian Heritage - Government of Canada
Donate a Car
Echoage
A Buyer's Choice
Bank of Montreal
NFP
Kernels
Cineplex
Wise Family Foundation
Equitable Life of Canada
ToysRUs/BabiesRUs
Cherry Hill
Cadillac Fairview
dentalcorp
PepsiCo
Metrocon Ready Mix Corp.
Randstad
Samsung Canada
  • © 2021 Autism Speaks Canada
  • Site Map
  • Privacy Policy