Podcast Episode 0066; Season 04, Episode 30; June 18, 2021 Gary Martinez is a fitness trainer and father of Monica, a 15-year-old autistic young woman. He describes his choice to leave a “Big Box” fitness center for independent fitness training as becoming “an athlete for life” focused on Monica. Gary integrates sensory activities into Monica’s…
Tag: parenting
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…
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…
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…
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 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…
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…
Podcast 0019; Season 02, Episode 05; October 2, 2018 People ask me how an autistic parent can be a foster-to-adopt parent. I might not be perfect, but with my wife’s support, I do okay as a father and I’m always trying to be better. Transcript (lightly edited) Scott: Hello and welcome to The Autistic…