Extra fun at FanX: Attending Comic-Con as an Autistic Adult
The first time I went to a convention, I was in eighth grade. I forgot to buy my ticket ahead of time, so I ended up waiting in line for three hours. I bought way too much merch and barely had enough money for dinner the last night, and I think I still owe someone $5 for lunch. My friends and I went together, and we took part in the photos, the cosplay, and the cat-ear making panel. That being said, it has been a lot different going to conventions as an adult, especially with the knowledge of my autism diagnosis.
Conventions can be a lot of fun, but they can also be pretty overwhelming. Tons of people crowded around each other, noisy props, lights, and audio feedback from microphones. It can be a lot to handle at once, so for me, planning was an important part of the process. I thought I'd share some advice on this topic for other autistic people interested in going to conventions, just in case any of my hacks might help.
1. Hearing protection - Comic-con can be pretty loud. I know I've already said this, but it's true. I'm pretty sensitive to sound, so if you're like me, earplugs, ear defenders, or headphones can go a long way in terms of anxiety levels. My cosplay actually incorporated ear defenders into the helmet, which gave me an easy way to wear hearing protection while still enjoying the cosplay vibes.
2. Wear layers if possible - Comic-con involves a lot of people in one area, and a lot of those people are wearing large, warm costumes. I personally do not tolerate heat well, so being able to take off my helmet and eat some ice cream was super helpful. I also brought a small fan, although I didn't end up needing it.
3. Research the convention online - About a month before the convention, I started looking up what it would be like, who would be there, etc. Although some stuff wasn't posted until right before the convention, I was able to find a general map of the convention including the Cosplay repair lounge, the gaming area, and a Quiet Room. Looking at pictures online gave me a better idea what to expect and helped me prepare mentally for the convention.
4. Take time to recharge - Comic-con is kinda like Disneyland in that you have a short window of time to see a lot of things, and it can be easy to push yourself until you crash. Taking time for a meal break can help you recharge your batteries, lessen anxiety, and help you better enjoy the rest of the convention.
5. Visit the Quiet Room if possible - When I went to the Quiet room at this convention, it was a dimly lit room with various seating options including a yoga ball, a bunch of adult coloring sheets, and they played ocean noises in the background. I spent a good 45 minutes in there just enjoying the peaceful atmosphere, along with 20 other people. It was pretty quiet, and it gave me some ideas for future quiet times of my own. It was also fun because, being a quiet room, I got to spend time alongside a few other autistic people with similar interests. We didn't really talk, but two of us had the same lanyard and I pointed it out. This was also a really useful room because I went to the convention with my friend, who is also autistic, but has a bit of a shorter social battery than me, so they were able to hang out there until I was ready to leave as well.
6. Have a plan for plans changing - Some people would say that they feel more autistic in different environments. Personally, I'd say that I'm equally autistic in every environment, but different environments are more likely to cause me stress as an autistic person, so I may appear more visibly autistic in those environments. I didn't have a meltdown at Comic-con, and I personally don't tend to have them in public, but there were a few times I felt close to it.
At this Comic-Con, one of my main goals had been to meet Dustin from Stranger Things, and when I got in line to meet him, an attendant came up to tell me that they were cutting off the line at the person right before me. I hadn't prepared to be refused in that moment, but instead of arguing or panicking, I just stood there for a moment mentally processing before deciding to meet Zuko's voice-actor instead. Later, I came back to learn more about the Celebrity photo-ops situation, which was its own level of overwhelming. Photo ops happen in one area, and with a flash going off every 10 seconds, I would not recommend this area for anyone with photosensitivity. After waiting in line for 20 minutes, I learned that photo-ops had been sold out since the first day of the convention, and I had to take a bit to gather my thoughts emotionally. Eventually, I settled on getting an autograph instead, and since most of the celebrities had photos of themselves for autographs anyways, it was almost the same thing.
7. Reward yourself for being social... within reason - In the above situation, I hadn't expected a change in plans, and in the middle of the anxiety-inducing photo-ops area, it was more than a little overwhelming. Thankfully, around this time, I happened upon an ice cream booth and treated myself to some consolation dippin' dots. Usually, when I do something hard that will involve a lot of social activity, I make a plan to allow myself a small treat. This can look different at different places, but it is usually some type of food. This strategy is useful because it gives me one solid, predictable thing that I will enjoy. Plans can change, outings can be harder than expected, but no matter how something goes, I know that I will have something good to look forward to, whether that's a $2 soda or dippin' dots. Don't go overboard though, especially if you have plans for other things.
8. Walkaway power - There must have been more than 100 vendor booths at the Comic-con when I went there, and if I didn't have a solid idea of what I wanted to buy, I could have easily spent over $500. However, I decided beforehand that I didn't want too many t-shirts, and that if I got a bag, it needed at least five pockets and couldn't be over $100. I wanted to find a Minecraft bee plushie, but I didn't pick a different one when I couldn't find it anywhere. I did get a glass Star Wars cup, which I didn't think of beforehand, but I had been wanting a glass cup for a while, and it reminded me of my cosplay, so it served as a good memento of the experience. Overall, I ended up getting a LOTR t-shirt, an autograph, the glass cup, and a Star Wars sticker, and I was happy with all my purchases. There were a lot of things I liked, but I didn't have a use for a lot of them, and as a student without a solid income, I didn't really need cat-themed sweatpants when I already had five other regular pairs at home. For the stuff I was unsure about, I made a list on my phone to come back to, and by the end of the day, I decided I didn't need them as badly as I thought when I first saw them. Of course, there are people who can afford to spend more at a Comic-con than me, and I'm all for it, but know what your budget is and don't be afraid to walk away from overpriced merch. If you seriously regret your decision later, most of the vendors have online stores and business cards if you change your mind.
9. Food - I mentioned this a little bit earlier, but I'll go into it more now. Being a student without a solid income, I wasn't about to spend $50 on meals inside the convention, so my friend and I actually brought Subway for lunch the day of the convention. This was great because I didn't have to wait in line behind 500 other people, and I knew what to expect for that meal. For dinner, we left the convention and got takeout ramen to eat back in our hotel room. Like I said earlier, food can be a big motivator for me, but I also don't function very well without it, so it's helpful to take a mental stock of my hunger levels before they impact my anxiety levels. Having big meals planned out decreased this anxiety, and it also freed me up to enjoy some smaller snacks at the convention itself.
10. Hotel or no hotel? - Because my friend was flying out of state the day after the convention, we ended up staying in a hotel that night, and it was a great decision. We weren't quite within walking distance, but we were pretty close. After taking nearly 25,000 steps that day, having the ability to lay down on a bed and rest was priceless. We didn't stay at a hotel the night before the convention, and that meant we had to drive quite a ways to get there, but if I had to do it again, having a hotel afterwards was way better than having one beforehand. I also took full advantage of the swimming pool and hot tub, which felt great for any sore muscles I had. In the future, I would consider getting one a bit closer to the event in case I wanted to go back during the day, but overall it was a good experience that I would highly recommend.
11. Research ADA Policies - As far as accessibility goes, this convention was one of the better ones. I mentioned the quiet room earlier, but they also had an ADA booth, and people in marked shirts who could help out if needed. People could request an ADA wristband and with it, they could wait in a different area for Photo-ops, celebrity meet-ups, and panels. The layout wasn't perfect though, and there were a few places where it would take nearly fifteen or twenty minutes to get out of a crowded area to somewhere you could sit down and take a break. But overall, I'd say their system was pretty good. There wasn't any gatekeeping, and although they didn't always know the answer to every question, they were willing to help.
Conventions can be a lot of fun, but they can also be pretty overwhelming. Tons of people crowded around each other, noisy props, lights, and audio feedback from microphones. It can be a lot to handle at once, so for me, planning was an important part of the process. I thought I'd share some advice on this topic for other autistic people interested in going to conventions, just in case any of my hacks might help.
Autism Hacks for Conventions:
2. Wear layers if possible - Comic-con involves a lot of people in one area, and a lot of those people are wearing large, warm costumes. I personally do not tolerate heat well, so being able to take off my helmet and eat some ice cream was super helpful. I also brought a small fan, although I didn't end up needing it.
4. Take time to recharge - Comic-con is kinda like Disneyland in that you have a short window of time to see a lot of things, and it can be easy to push yourself until you crash. Taking time for a meal break can help you recharge your batteries, lessen anxiety, and help you better enjoy the rest of the convention.
5. Visit the Quiet Room if possible - When I went to the Quiet room at this convention, it was a dimly lit room with various seating options including a yoga ball, a bunch of adult coloring sheets, and they played ocean noises in the background. I spent a good 45 minutes in there just enjoying the peaceful atmosphere, along with 20 other people. It was pretty quiet, and it gave me some ideas for future quiet times of my own. It was also fun because, being a quiet room, I got to spend time alongside a few other autistic people with similar interests. We didn't really talk, but two of us had the same lanyard and I pointed it out. This was also a really useful room because I went to the convention with my friend, who is also autistic, but has a bit of a shorter social battery than me, so they were able to hang out there until I was ready to leave as well.
6. Have a plan for plans changing - Some people would say that they feel more autistic in different environments. Personally, I'd say that I'm equally autistic in every environment, but different environments are more likely to cause me stress as an autistic person, so I may appear more visibly autistic in those environments. I didn't have a meltdown at Comic-con, and I personally don't tend to have them in public, but there were a few times I felt close to it.
At this Comic-Con, one of my main goals had been to meet Dustin from Stranger Things, and when I got in line to meet him, an attendant came up to tell me that they were cutting off the line at the person right before me. I hadn't prepared to be refused in that moment, but instead of arguing or panicking, I just stood there for a moment mentally processing before deciding to meet Zuko's voice-actor instead. Later, I came back to learn more about the Celebrity photo-ops situation, which was its own level of overwhelming. Photo ops happen in one area, and with a flash going off every 10 seconds, I would not recommend this area for anyone with photosensitivity. After waiting in line for 20 minutes, I learned that photo-ops had been sold out since the first day of the convention, and I had to take a bit to gather my thoughts emotionally. Eventually, I settled on getting an autograph instead, and since most of the celebrities had photos of themselves for autographs anyways, it was almost the same thing.
7. Reward yourself for being social... within reason - In the above situation, I hadn't expected a change in plans, and in the middle of the anxiety-inducing photo-ops area, it was more than a little overwhelming. Thankfully, around this time, I happened upon an ice cream booth and treated myself to some consolation dippin' dots. Usually, when I do something hard that will involve a lot of social activity, I make a plan to allow myself a small treat. This can look different at different places, but it is usually some type of food. This strategy is useful because it gives me one solid, predictable thing that I will enjoy. Plans can change, outings can be harder than expected, but no matter how something goes, I know that I will have something good to look forward to, whether that's a $2 soda or dippin' dots. Don't go overboard though, especially if you have plans for other things.
8. Walkaway power - There must have been more than 100 vendor booths at the Comic-con when I went there, and if I didn't have a solid idea of what I wanted to buy, I could have easily spent over $500. However, I decided beforehand that I didn't want too many t-shirts, and that if I got a bag, it needed at least five pockets and couldn't be over $100. I wanted to find a Minecraft bee plushie, but I didn't pick a different one when I couldn't find it anywhere. I did get a glass Star Wars cup, which I didn't think of beforehand, but I had been wanting a glass cup for a while, and it reminded me of my cosplay, so it served as a good memento of the experience. Overall, I ended up getting a LOTR t-shirt, an autograph, the glass cup, and a Star Wars sticker, and I was happy with all my purchases. There were a lot of things I liked, but I didn't have a use for a lot of them, and as a student without a solid income, I didn't really need cat-themed sweatpants when I already had five other regular pairs at home. For the stuff I was unsure about, I made a list on my phone to come back to, and by the end of the day, I decided I didn't need them as badly as I thought when I first saw them. Of course, there are people who can afford to spend more at a Comic-con than me, and I'm all for it, but know what your budget is and don't be afraid to walk away from overpriced merch. If you seriously regret your decision later, most of the vendors have online stores and business cards if you change your mind.
9. Food - I mentioned this a little bit earlier, but I'll go into it more now. Being a student without a solid income, I wasn't about to spend $50 on meals inside the convention, so my friend and I actually brought Subway for lunch the day of the convention. This was great because I didn't have to wait in line behind 500 other people, and I knew what to expect for that meal. For dinner, we left the convention and got takeout ramen to eat back in our hotel room. Like I said earlier, food can be a big motivator for me, but I also don't function very well without it, so it's helpful to take a mental stock of my hunger levels before they impact my anxiety levels. Having big meals planned out decreased this anxiety, and it also freed me up to enjoy some smaller snacks at the convention itself.
10. Hotel or no hotel? - Because my friend was flying out of state the day after the convention, we ended up staying in a hotel that night, and it was a great decision. We weren't quite within walking distance, but we were pretty close. After taking nearly 25,000 steps that day, having the ability to lay down on a bed and rest was priceless. We didn't stay at a hotel the night before the convention, and that meant we had to drive quite a ways to get there, but if I had to do it again, having a hotel afterwards was way better than having one beforehand. I also took full advantage of the swimming pool and hot tub, which felt great for any sore muscles I had. In the future, I would consider getting one a bit closer to the event in case I wanted to go back during the day, but overall it was a good experience that I would highly recommend.
11. Research ADA Policies - As far as accessibility goes, this convention was one of the better ones. I mentioned the quiet room earlier, but they also had an ADA booth, and people in marked shirts who could help out if needed. People could request an ADA wristband and with it, they could wait in a different area for Photo-ops, celebrity meet-ups, and panels. The layout wasn't perfect though, and there were a few places where it would take nearly fifteen or twenty minutes to get out of a crowded area to somewhere you could sit down and take a break. But overall, I'd say their system was pretty good. There wasn't any gatekeeping, and although they didn't always know the answer to every question, they were willing to help.
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