As April approaches (today is March 30, 2021), autistic self-advocates begin our annual critiques of Autism Awareness, Autism Speaks, ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis), special education, healthcare, mental health’s DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual), accommodations, tolerance, a long list of social injustices… and our families. At least as I skim blogs…
Category: Relationships
Work, school, family… they are all about relationships.
Podcast Episode 0061; Season 04, Episode 25; March 23, 2021 The Autistic Therapist, Kate McNulty, discusses her book Love and Asperger’s. We also discuss gender identity, sexuality, and the challenges faced by autistics in relationships with neurotypical partners. This hour is a frank discussion of some reasons autistics struggle to maintain romantic…
Podcast Episode 0058; Season 4, Episode 22, March 2, 2021 Catherine (“Cat”) Guimard-Payen provides life coaching to autistic women, but that’s not why I asked her to join us on The Autistic Me Podcast. Catherine is also autistic and the parent of four Neurodiverse children, two with autism and two…
Podcast Episode 0057; Season 04, Episode 21; February 23, 2021 Quoting from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network: Disability Community Day of Mourning In the past five years, over 700 people with disabilities have been murdered by their parents. Every year on March 1, the disability community gathers across the nation to remember…
Podcast Episode 0056; Season 04, Episode 20; February 16, 2021 They Begged… So This is Their Episode Daddy tends to be a pushover when the girls ask to learn. This time, they wanted to learn how the podcasting gear works. So, we set up the Zoom R16, three microphones, and off we went.…
Our daughters, now known as “Leigh” and “Anne” on The Autistic Me, are Neurodiverse. They share some traits, share traits with me, and also have their individual needs. Their adoption was finalized in May 2019, or as they say, “We adopted you, Daddy!” The girls are everything to me. We…
As I mentioned in a recent podcast, I’m trying to engage more online and, once the pandemic passes, I hope to return to public speaking. (Virtual appearances are always an option, if your organization would like to hear my perspectives.) Some autistics are actively engaged in activism, with large numbers…
Parenting comes with anxiety and stress. Those are part of the bargain when you decide to bring children into your life. Susan and I are natural worriers. We hope for the best, prepare for the worst. We have emergency kits in the cars. We keep a stocked pantry. We bought a…
Podcast 0053; Season 04, Episode 17; January 26, 2021 Autism encompasses social and physical disabilities. Traits become disabilities when they limit “normal” daily routines and life activities. My sensory sensitivities exist whether or not I interact with other people. I’m not going to cope well with bright light (including sunlight) or…
My wife and I have two neurodiverse young daughters. The girls are in the first and third grades, ages at which doctors verify or revise diagnoses. As parents, we reference my experiences with the health and education systems to evaluate the services provided to the girls. Reading Rosie Weldon’s autobiography…