Shutdown

A response to overwhelming sensory, emotional, or cognitive input in which an autistic person withdraws or retreats from their environment. Unlike meltdowns (which are outward expressions of distress), shutdowns involve a reduction in communication, interaction, and responsiveness. A person experiencing a shutdown may become nonverbal, appear "frozen," or seem emotionally flat. Shutdowns serve as a protective mechanism when the nervous system is overloaded. In digital contexts, understanding shutdowns helps explain why autistic users may need low-stimulation options, the ability to disengage from social features, and environments that do not penalize temporary non-participation.