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Feeding Therapy Awareness Month
A month raising awareness of feeding differences and ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder). Feeding difficulties are more common in autistic children, are often tied to sensory experience, and deserve specialized support.
History
We use March to highlight feeding differences. A 2013 meta-analysis found that autistic children had about five times the odds of feeding problems compared with their peers, which is why feeding support for autistic children has become a specialized area.
How to Participate
- →Learn about ARFID and how it differs from picky eating
- →Understand that eating differences in autism are sensory-driven, not willful
- →Avoid pressure-based feeding strategies, they typically worsen food anxiety
- →Seek occupational therapists and feeding specialists trained in sensory-based approaches
- →Connect with ARFID support communities for families
FEEDINGARFIDSENSORYSUPPORT