As someone on the autism spectrum, I’m often labeled as a “rule follower” – even a bit of a stickler. It’s been suggested I have a tendency to point out when others aren’t following guidelines, and to insist on getting what I believe is rightfully mine. I remember this vividly from childhood. I used to […]
Tag: Autism
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 […]
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Autism Reveals Invisible Struggles
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 […]
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 […]
Many autistic people find eye contact uncomfortable and actively avoid it. I recently received a question from a blog reader asking how I feel when someone makes eye contact with me, and in this post, I’ll answer that, as well as explain why eye contact can be so challenging for many autistic individuals. Eye Contact […]
Anna Asks I’m really struggling with logical reasoning tasks, but a recent cognitive assessment with a psychologist still indicated average intelligence. I keep making silly mistakes – the most recent was putting my compression socks on over my regular socks while I was providing care for a client! I took a quick online IQ test […]
Recently, I received a question from an anonymous blog reader wondering how she’ll ever be able to accept herself. She has autism and, like me, struggles with visuospatial tasks – things like wrapping presents, assembling furniture, and following movies. She has a normal IQ but a very uneven cognitive profile and impaired visuospatial ability. The […]
Many autistic people find making friends challenging, but it’s important to remember the reasons behind this can vary greatly. In my work, I’ve heard several common themes from autistic individuals: 1. Shyness and Insecurity Some autistic people experience social insecurity and shyness. If you’re worried about what others think, it can be difficult to initiate […]
Today, a lot of conversation surrounds what autism actually is. Since the 1990s, awareness has grown, and more people understand that autism can present even when someone has spoken language and is intellectually gifted. Many now recognize that difficulties with social interaction, sensory sensitivities, and repetitive interests are often part of the autistic experience. However, […]