Acceptance
An Alternative to Labels
Labels and diagnoses have their use, but they also have some significant downsides. What if there were an alternative?
Acceptance
On Trying to be Normal
I tried for so long to be normal. And it drove me nuts and burned me out multiple times. It’s not only an unreachable goal, bit it turns out it’s not really the goal that I thought it was, after all.
Education
On the Joy of Learning
I hear a lot of questions from parents and professionals on how to motivate autistic children. But motivation itself isn’t the issue.
Autism
On Non-Speaking Autism, Part 2
Non-speaking autism is often misunderstood as an intellectual disability. I think something very different is going on.
Autism
On Non-Speaking Autism, Part 1
Non-speaking autism is often misunderstood as an intellectual disability. I think something very different is going on.
Social
Social Skills, the Autistic Way
Social skills can be learned. Yes, even by autistic people. But they aren’t often taught to us autistics in the way that autistics learn them.
Self-Reg
Hidden Stressors at Home
When your senses tell you that everything hurts, even home can be a minefield. Here’s some tips to help your sensory defensive child be happier in your home.
ABA
Why I don’t recommend ABA
ABA is one of the most common interventions for Autistic kids, yet among Autistic adults it is one of the most reviled. The important question, though, is why.
Social
On Shyness and Social Anxiety
Social anxiety, or what is often called shyness, is extremely common among autistic kids and adults. Here’s the short version of how it develops.
ABA
A Quick Q&A on Behavior Therapy
Behavior therapies have been the standard “treatment” for autism for a long time, but are losing popularity. Here’s a little on my position in this regard.
Self-Reg
What’s stimming really about?
Stimming is a bit different from other challenging behaviors because it’s both a result of stress and a strategy to calm down. It is one of the effective strategies we develop naturally.
Self-Reg
On Autistic Stress
Autistics get stressed out by a lot more things than most people, and what stresses us, and why, is often surprising to others. Here’s the critical first step to helping.