I used to consider software development one of the few careers, outside librarians and medical examiners, surely insulated from the extroverts too often in charge of human society. Then, along came various project management schemes that forced programmers to act like extroverts. This post discusses Agile software development project management…
The Autistic Me
Some of my coworkers and friends assume I like exercising. They know I’ve had gym memberships and that I exercise daily. I ride my exercise bike 16 to 20 miles most days, and sometimes 30 miles. The girls and I take a two- or three-mile walk twice a week. We…
Sock seams, shirt tags, tight watch bands, and high collars. These are a few of autistics least favorite things. The tag-less t-shirt wasn’t a new invention, since tags were added long after shirts were first made or sold, but I’m so glad they are the norm today. I cannot recall…
My grand plan to write daily fell apart on the night of April 18-19, after a losing battle with an online employment system used by a university. I spent three days preparing documents and then the HR system being used (Workday) choked while uploading my materials. The application was marked…
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is an ineffective family of “therapies” with a dark, disturbing origin, which I’ve written about several times. Notice that ABA is not named Applied Behavior Therapy. It’s not what I’d consider therapy and it isn’t really presented to parents and caregivers as therapy. Mental health therapies help…
Autistics struggle because most people have more social skills and extroverts with social skills lead most communities. By the age of six, teachers can accurately predict which students will be successful. That’s true in various nations, on several continents. Research has found, time and again, that the mastery of cultural norms…
“Never publicly discuss your job hunt,” I have been advised by colleagues with the best of intentions. I’d offer the same advice to my students, or any other job seekers. However, other autistics, their families, friends, and allies need to know what it is like for an autistic adult. The…
Podcast Episode 0063; Season 04, Episode 27; April 20, 2021 John Ordover is a man of many talents. A creative consultant, a writer, an editor, and a stand-up comic. He’s even appeared as an extra in some of my favorite television shows. John also advocates for the autistic community as the father of an…
“What has changed since you started blogging in 2007?” The question from a Facebook follower prompted me to skim the older posts and compare them to now. What has changed over 13 years and a bit? What has remained the same? Have my attitudes changed dramatically, or only a little?…
I have started and stopped work on a memoir repeatedly since 2007. For the last few weeks, I have been attempting to resurrect the work, in part because readers of this blog, listeners to the podcast, and social media followers continue to ask for such a work. It is doubtful more…