Compartmentalization

One of the most prevalent characteristics that Dakota displays with his Autism is "Compartmentalization".....the word is pretty self explanatory 

I have noticed from a very young age Dakota always seemed to prefer specific activities with one specific person.....or preforming an activity either in a specific time frame, hour or day...
For me is it rather confounding, but I also understand it's just another trait of his disorder ...

As an example he had a coach that he always went bowling with....we lost that coach...and every attempt since then to go bowling has been unsuccessful ....to the extent of aggressive behavior towards those trying to get him bowling again....

It goes much deeper than trips to the bowling alley but I guess my point about identifying and discussing it is that there is such a delicate balance between trying to offer opportunity and forcing an action or activity because it's is for the benefit of the individual. Again it goes back to picking your battles...you have to decide what is imperative for your child to experience and what can be excluded.

It is Frustrating as hell; as is a lot of dealing with Autsim. Keeping a perspective on what is exactly the focus and it is truly for the betterment of the child or is it because you want them to feel or hear or experience something that was a "staple" for your childhood or young adulthood or for any "typically"developed peer....like going to prom...or bowling, or a movie with friends, or the mall, talking on the phone ...any number of experiences that we identify as growing and socializing.

I also believe that there comes a time when you have to let the individual have some kind of control over his "world"( and/or environment)and if he only wanted to do something with one specific person and that person is no longer a part of his world ..then who am I to say that he needs to do it with some one else...? We have to understand that it all a part of the complex disorder called Autism and although our kids have permenent aspects that will never leave them they still do grow and develop in other ways and we have to let them be able to to do what they want and can do....

Guess there no right answer, it has to be what works for your families situation.all you can do is be as supportive and encourage your kid to do what he wants to do...and to live as much life as he can!