“The world isn’t designed for the neurodiverse,” is a claim I read over and over on social media. “It’s made for neurotypicals.” Another variation uses “autistics” and “allistics” instead of neurodiverse and neurotypical, but not every non-autistic (allistic) is neurotypical, so I’m not sure that works as well at conveying…
The Autistic Me
A Facebook follower asked why I do not use “Au” after my name to indicate I support the Au manifesto, the Autism Union statement of ideals. Do I not support the 10 points? Do I not like the community members? Is there something wrong with Au? What does the Âû…
Autistics relying on self-diagnosis concern me, but not for the reasons readers might assume. The cost of a diagnostic assessment prevents too many people from getting the help they need and deserve. Distinguish between not liking that people have no choice but self-diagnose and my concerns that self-diagnoses aren’t sufficient…
Podcast Episode 0062; Season 04, Episode 26; April 2, 2021 It’s that time of year again. Yes, it’s time for my annual rant against Autism Awareness Month and all that goes with it. Though, personally, blue is one of my favorite colors so I’d like to keep the blue. Darn, I…
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…
Getting a job is difficult when you’re autistic. The data aren’t promising: 85 percent of autistic college-graduates lack full-time employment in their desired field. The job interview process works against us in ways it might not work against the physically disabled. Sadly, I’ve noted time and time again, we autistics…
NOTE: This rant is cross-posted and expanded from the Rogue Rhetorician, where I focus on rhetoric and philosophy. It’s been a decade since an academic supervisor wrote that my various creative and non-fiction writings were all of little value. He took my sarcasm, my jabs at academia and academic writing, seriously and…
Susan does a lot to help me function, but it’s unreasonable for anyone, especially me, to expect her to read and respond to whatever I am scribbling or typing. Susan is my wife, not my editor or co-author. Yes, we have worked together on the Tameri Guide for Writers, but not…
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 0060; Season 04, Episode 24; March 16, 2021 Productive. I want to be productive. More precisely, I want to know I am contributing to our family by producing work that earns an income. I’m one of the 85% of autistic adults with a college degree and no full-time employment. That’s our…