Have you ever noticed that some people still believe autism should be “fixed” or “cured”? It seems incredible, considering we now understand autism is a neurological difference—it’s simply how our brains are wired. A recent comment on my blog made me wonder what drives this persistent push for rehabilitation. Why is the ideal so often […]
My last two blog posts have responded to questions from I.H., with the most recent one addressing whether autistic children benefit from or are harmed by social training. As I promised last time, today’s post focuses on limiting the special interests of an autistic person. Films and Games as Special Interests This post stems from […]
IH asks (Part 2) The psychologist encourages us parents to practice various social skills with our autistic child – everything from playing games and building Lego together, to role-playing and practicing social phrases. I shared this in a Facebook group and received a lot of criticism – people said it was wrong and would damage […]
IH Asks We have a child with Autism Level 1, possibly Level 2. They are soon to undergo an assessment for Intellectual Disability (ID), and the child is nearly 7 years old. Our child is significantly behind their peers academically and socially. However, they’ve recently started to show an interest in letters. How can an […]
When I run into problems in everyday life, I can’t help but think about how easily things come to people without disabilities. It’s frustrating to see how much energy they save on daily tasks, leaving them with more for other things. Even though I often write about how content I am with my life and […]
Those of us with autism often face challenges that extend beyond the everyday struggles everyone experiences. While everyone goes through difficult times, the difference is that autism is a lifelong condition, and our difficulties can be enduring, or at least long-lasting. When a new resident might understandably feel lonely during their first year in a […]
Some people believe autistic individuals exaggerate when talking about their challenges. Statements like “I don’t want to live anymore if I have to use public transport” or “I’d rather die than make a phone call” are often met with skepticism. What’s worse is that some people have stopped listening to us, feeling we’re being unnecessarily […]
Many people with autism have had negative experiences and misunderstandings in healthcare, often because we autistic individuals communicate differently through body language, which can easily be misinterpreted. A couple of years ago, I underwent a colonoscopy, and my different way of communicating definitely caused problems when interacting with the medical staff! I Gave Staff a […]
Many people ask me for advice on babysitting autistic children. Here are my top tips, based on experience. 1. Understand That Autism Is a Spectrum Autism is a broad spectrum that encompasses a diverse range of challenges and strengths. No two autistic individuals are alike! So, don’t make the mistake of comparing an autistic child […]
More than 22 years ago, I was diagnosed with autism, and since then I’ve been learning strategies to make my daily life as easy and smooth as possible. It all comes down to conserving energy. People with neurodivergent conditions often experience a regular day as incredibly draining, and it’s certainly something I won’t grow out […]