03/20/2026
This framework is available for purchase from Autism Level UP
We pulled out this Flow Chart yesterday when working alongside a school team and have decided to build a PD for direct support providers around it later this week! It's foundational. It applies everywhere.
- Context Matters -
It's in our book - Energy: The Framework, Tools, Strategies & Logic to Support Regulation
Some who read the book title might jump to the conclusion that the manual focuses on teaching a person self-regulatory skills. That assumption is only partially correct....in fact about 1/3 correct.
As many of you have heard us say, "an autistic person (ND person, person who requires regulatory support, etc.) is at most 1/3 of the equation when it comes to regulation."
What does that mean? It means that regulation is complex and contexts must be considered. The environment, both social and physical, as well as the nature of activity are factors that are critically important in the regulation equation and must be attended to.
The manual is designed to address "the whole equation" when it comes to regulation - so, in addition to resources focused on scaffolding the development of self regulation, there are sections that address the other 2/3rds of the equation in detail.
Each tool has a section devoted to mutual regulation (coregulation) AND there are entire chapters devoted to broader aspects of context including considerations for environmental modifications and activity accommodations.
Because "the autistic person (or for that matter any person who could benefit from regulatory support) is at most 1/3 of the regulation equation" and any comprehensive regulation support plan must address the whole equation.
Image description - a flow chart from the Context Matters Appendix of the Manual designed by Amy, because Amy loves flowcharts. (Jac hates flow charts - but she does love the content of this flow chart... just not the visual presentation of the content). It illustrates a sequence of activity and environmental considerations considered baseline needs focused on safety, predictability, accessibility, etc critical to supporting regulation for a person that must be considered before beginning to work towards scaffolding self regulatory skills and/or initiated mutual regulatory skills (last step in flow chart)
