How are appointment booking and attendance skills included in autism daily living programmes?

PostedDecember 23, 2025

UpdatedDecember 23, 2025

ByMy Patient Advice

Author: Lucia Alvarez, MSc | Reviewed by: Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS

Autistic children, teens, and adults often face barriers when booking or attending appointments because of communication differences, executive-function demands, sensory overwhelm, or unfamiliar environments. According to NHS England’s guidance on autism-friendly care, preparation, predictable routines, and clear communication significantly improve access to healthcare. Daily living programmes commonly include practical teaching to help autistic people manage appointments more confidently and independently.

Building the foundations: communication and preparation

NHS advice on supporting autistic people in healthcare settings highlights the value of visual tools, advance preparation, and involving carers or advocates during appointments (NHS UK). These approaches help reduce anxiety and make unfamiliar situations more manageable. In Scotland, healthcare guidance encourages pre-appointment visits, quiet areas, and structured reminders to support attendance (NHS Inform).

Daily living programmes translate this into practical skills, such as:

using visual schedules or social stories

rehearsing the journey or sequence of the appointment

practising how to share key information with staff

pre-alerting services about communication preferences

These strategies help build familiarity and reduce cognitive load.

What NICE recommends

NICE guideline CG170 advises teaching daily living skills, including navigating healthcare, as part of structured support for autistic children and young people. The guideline recommends using predictable routines, visual aids, and collaborative planning with families.
For adults, NICE NG170 emphasises communication adjustments, independence-building, and coordinated care that helps people prepare for medical settings.
Quality standard QS51 reinforces the importance of accessible services, routine support, and clear information before and during appointments.
In related areas, NICE NG54 highlights the role of visual schedules, rehearsal, and environmental adjustments, tools that daily living programmes regularly use when supporting appointment attendance.

Skills taught through therapy and structured programmes

Occupational therapy often plays a central role. Evidence reviewed by the PubMed (2021) shows that OT interventions improve scheduling, planning, and executive-function skills needed for appointment management. Therapists may help people practise booking appointments online or by phone, create simple checklists, or learn how to communicate sensory needs during appointments.

Research (BMJ Open healthcare navigation study) also shows clear barriers for autistic adults navigating healthcare, such as difficulty using booking systems or uncertainty about what to expect, and highlights the benefits of visual supports, digital reminders, and pre-visit rehearsal. Autistica’s reports suggest that digital reminders and pre-alerting significantly increase successful attendance.

The role of charities and advocates

Charities provide practical resources that fit well within daily living programmes. The National Autistic Society recommends communication passports, sensory planning, and structured appointment preparation. The Royal College of Occupational Therapists also offers guidance on teaching appointment-planning and travel skills to support independence.

Takeaway

Appointment-booking and attendance skills can be taught effectively when programmes use visual tools, structured routines, communication adjustments, and real-world practice. With support from carers, clinicians, and advocates, many autistic people can develop greater confidence and independence when navigating healthcare and other essential appointments.

Lucia Alvarez, MSc

Author

Lucia Alvarez is a clinical psychologist with a Master’s in Clinical Psychology and extensive experience providing evidence-based therapy and psychological assessment to children, adolescents, and adults. Skilled in CBT, DBT, and other therapeutic interventions, she has worked in hospital, community, and residential care settings. Her expertise includes grief counseling, anxiety management, and resilience-building, with a strong focus on creating safe, supportive environments to improve mental well-being.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the author's privacy.

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS

Reviewer

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez is a UK-trained physician with an MBBS and experience in general surgery, cardiology, internal medicine, gynecology, intensive care, and emergency medicine. She has managed critically ill patients, stabilised acute trauma cases, and provided comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care. In psychiatry, Dr. Fernandez has worked with psychotic, mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders, applying evidence-based approaches such as CBT, ACT, and mindfulness-based therapies. Her skills span patient assessment, treatment planning, and the integration of digital health solutions to support mental well-being.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the reviewer's privacy.