[Note: this post is specifically in regard to the autism community. As an aside, the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community also prefers identity-first. However, many other disability communities still prefer person-first. Remember that some people on the spectrum may actually prefer person-first, and it's always nice to ask. However, general consensus in the autism community is … Continue reading The Case for Identity-first
Author: Courtney
Dysautonomia Awareness Month!
Update: since this post, I have been to Vanderbilt's Autonomic Dysfunction Clinic! Not surprisingly, I was diagnosed with Hyperadrenergic Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. Make noise for turquoise!Actually, maybe not too much noise. I'm in a bit of a quiet mood today. Dysautonomia: an umbrella term for medical conditions that cause a malfunction in the … Continue reading Dysautonomia Awareness Month!
Explaining Autism: With Cats
Update: this article has been updated with more current statistics as of April 2020. Most of us have heard the saying "All cats are autistic." Usually it's meant as a joke, but there is a hint of truth to it. I see a lot of behaviors in my cat that I recognize in myself. In … Continue reading Explaining Autism: With Cats
Stim Toys and Fidgets Workshop: A Recap
Update for clarity: As of now, I'm no longer a volunteer with the Autism Society of East Tennessee and the community center is no longer active. Now this is the content I signed up for. Allow me to utilize this special interest for the next few hours. A while back, I hosted a Stim Toy … Continue reading Stim Toys and Fidgets Workshop: A Recap
Diagnosis Story Time!
Getting a diagnosis. Seems fairly straightforward, right? You take your kid in to see the doctor, the doctor refers them, and then - voila- diagnosis time! At least, that's what people always assume. Me, not so much. I was always a "weird" kid growing up. I took things literally, constantly asked questions that everyone somehow already understood, … Continue reading Diagnosis Story Time!
