I’m a big believer in stimming. Even before I knew I was autistic, I was always a big stimmer – constantly fidgeting, bouncing, biting things, etc. In general, I think everyone should be free to stim as they like. But I also have a controversial […]
A big part of my autistic experience is the fact that I have no social circuits. I’m just not programmed for social niceties, small talk, chit chat, etc. Over time, I’ve managed to write some scripts for myself, but it doesn’t come naturally. It requires […]
I love the 4th of July. It makes a great midpoint of summer – everything before leads up to it and then everything after it is winding down, looking toward the next season and going back to school. Plus, it’s one of only two holidays when […]
It can be really tempting to stay inside all summer long. Here in Louisiana, it’s already oppressively hot and muggy, which makes the siren song of the air conditioner hard to resist. Then there are all kinds of festivals going on, the pools are crowded (and I can’t […]
Swimming lessons can be a really touchy subject for people on the spectrum. Some of us love the water, but a lot of us hate it, especially if it gets in our faces. Getting autistic kids into a pool might be an epic struggle that […]
When I first began seriously looking into getting a diagnosis, I spent a lot of time searching for autism symptoms specific to girls and women and one of the most prolific sources I found was Dr. Tony Attwood. I recognize that Dr. Attwood may be controversial […]
Adulting for Autistics is a series about practical life skills to help autistic adults live independently and build good relationships. Some of this is stuff I’ve learned the hard way over the years, and some I’m still learning. If there’s something you’d like to see […]
With Memorial Day behind us and summer officially in full swing, convention season is upon us! Comic or sci-fi conventions, Renaissance faires, and the like will be happening all over the country for the next several months. For many of us on the autism spectrum, con […]
Lots of people talk about autistic people “thinking in pictures” – Temple Grandin published a book under that title, in fact. It’s often considered to be a hallmark of autism (but we all know how dicey it can be to try to say “all autistic people” […]
Just because we’re autistic doesn’t mean we should be hermits. We really do enjoy things like festivals, barbecues, conventions, etc., it’s just that we have limits and we need a little help now and then. One of the most important things I ever learned is […]
