Podcast Episode 0038; Season 04, Episode 02; September 1, 2020 To my disappointment, but not surprise, the most-read blog post on The Autistic Me discusses the research on autistics making other people uncomfortable from the moment they meet us. I have taught business courses for several years. As part of…
The Autistic Me
People are uncomfortable around me. I know that since I was in kindergarten or first grade. Research suggesting people form impressions of autistics within half a second doesn’t surprise me. I’m going to prepare a podcast on this topic, because I’m realizing the pandemic has somewhat freed me from trying…
Podcast Episode 0037; Season 04, Episode 01; August 25, 2020 Everyone is exhausted. The COVID-19 pandemic safety measures are the new normal. We’re in a routine, and it isn’t much fun. Every day is another day at home. Each day resembles the last day, the last week, the last month.…
In 2017, I set an older recording of my “Personal Teaching Statement” to kinetic text, an animated abridged transcript of sorts. The speech was more about my community than me, as I wanted to capture the classism, racism, and ableism I observed as a student. The intolerance of teachers is…
During the summers, we maintain “summer enrichment” activities for our daughters. With schooling forced online in March 2020, we’ve done all we can to simply remain steady and consistent throughout this summer. When the official school year ended, we maintained the daily routine of lessons, worksheets, reading, and activities. To…
We’re officially a homeschooling household. We notified the school district, in writing and via email, and we enrolled in a homeschooling curriculum. The COVID-19 pandemic has meant that since March, we’ve been “homeschooling” anyway. The remote learning provided by our daughters’ school was the best they could do in an…
Trauma comes in many forms. I don’t wish to suggest they are all equal — they are not. But this blog post discusses the emotional abuse teachers intentionally and unintentionally inflict on students. As a teacher, I’m sure I’ve said things that upset a student over the last 30 years.…
Updating some notes on my life, for both personal reasons and to reconsider the aborted autobiography on life without knowing you are autistic, is depressing. A long list of personal and professional failings. Writing is my refuge, even though I haven’t made a career of it. When I get paid…
The end of a school year normally comes with a sigh of relief. Instead, this year ended COVID-19 style, accompanied with anxiety about the future of schools, teachers, and even if our daughters will be on campus in August. This was our first year in Texas, so both girls were…
Podcast Episode 0036; Season 03, Episode 08; May 9, 2020 Technology has empowered many disabled individuals, directly and indirectly. For the autistic community, online spaces offer opportunities to socialize and connect, without the challenges of physical spaces and social cues. Unlike many of the autistics I’ve met, I’m not interested…