I don’t use functioning labels. They only serve to withhold support from those designated “high-functioning” and limit the possibilities available to those deemed “low-functioning”. They’re crap, so I don’t use them here. I prefer using support needs if the distinction is necessary: low support needs […]
Some people see self-care as a luxury, albeit a “necessary” one. Hot baths, face masks, and time spent on hobbies are considered just as important as drinking plenty of water and eating good, nutritious food. But when you’re autistic, self-care is not optional. It’s not […]
It’s time once again for me to remind my American readers that fireworks can be a real problem for autistic people of all ages. Where I live, Independence Day fireworks start July 1 and go on through at least July 5, but across the country, […]
Every now and then, I run across a piece of film or other media that hits really close to home in depicting parts of my autistic experience. One of those is the episode “Mute” from season four of The Twilight Zone. You can find it […]
I’ve wanted to write this post for a while and I’ve put it off because I really wanted to do this topic justice. So I’m doing it now and hopefully I’m doing it well. Growing up autistic, especially not knowing it, was really hard. Navigating […]
As you know if you’ve been keeping up with my work stress lately, in all the upheaval of COVID-19 I have been moved from my usual no-contact-with-people information synthesis duties and instead put on phones. PHONES. Luckily, I’m not answering them – a decade in […]
Today is Autistic and Neurodivergent Coming Out Day. So I’m going to give you my story. I am autistic. I have always been autistic. I did not become autistic when I got my diagnosis at 35, nor did I spend my adult life to that […]
Socialization isn’t easy for most of us on the autism spectrum. Every interaction is fraught with unspoken cues that we may miss, having to watch the tone and volume of our voices, all that social calculus. Often, we try to mask our way through it […]
Autistic relationships have all the same problems as NT relationships, plus a few that are specific to the spectrum. Dating other autistic people can ease some of those issues, but it’s no guarantee that things will be better. I dated a fellow Aspie (undiagnosed) who […]
As the saying goes, clothes make the man – or woman. As autistic adults, we can use this idea to our advantage to give us more confidence in social or overwhelming situations. When we feel good, we can cope better. When we feel at ease, […]
