Lesson 1: Social Cues, Emotions & Stimming

Chapter 2, Lesson 1: Social Cues, Emotions & Stimming

• Understand why social cues can be missed or misread, and what your partner may be noticing instead

• Explore how autistic people experience and express emotions, often deeply but differently

• Learn what stimming is and how it helps the nervous system regulate

• Recognize the difference between stimming for comfort, focus, joy, and overwhelm

• Discover ways to respond with acceptance instead of correction

Reflection/Journal Prompts:

1. Think of a time you felt hurt because your partner seemed to miss a cue, like a tone, a look, or a hint. What did you need them to understand, and how could you say it more directly next time?

2. How does your partner show emotions like love, stress, or excitement? Are there ways they express care that you may have overlooked?

3. What stims have you noticed in your partner, like rocking, tapping, humming, or repeating words? When do they tend to happen?

4. How do you usually react when your partner stims? Has that reaction ever felt like correction to them?

5. What is one way you could make your home or time together feel safer for your partner to stim freely?