Supporting clients who experience autistic burnout, inertia, meltdown, and shutdown (BIMS): It starts with understanding (February 10, 2026)

Presented by: Dr. Christie Welch 

Autistic burnout, inertia, meltdown, and shutdown (BIMS) are widely recognized and discussed within the autistic community, including on social media platforms. Increasingly, they are also being explored in empirical research and recognized in clinical practice. BIMS experiences are physical, cognitive, sensory, social, emotional, and occupational in nature (Phung et al., 2021). Based on our holistic approach to supporting clients, occupational therapists are well-positioned to provide effective support when equipped with the right information and resources. This webinar will cover current research in autism on burnout, inertia, meltdown, and shutdown (BIMS) phenomena, with a focus on defining/identifying each one. Drawing on work co-designing BIMS support tools with autistic children, youth, and adults, the webinar will also highlight key strategies and free resources for supporting clients.

After taking part in this webinar, participants will: 

1. Be able to identify the key features of autistic burnout, inertia, meltdown, and shutdown (BIMS).
2. Be sensitized to common clinical errors that can make BIMS experiences worse.
3. Be able to share helpful strategies for supporting clients who experience BIMS.

Level  Advanced (More than 5 years of experience in this specific practice area)