To the parents of kids with disabilities: Take it easy. Take a breath. Be gentle on yourselves. More importantly, be gentle on your kiddos. Parenting is difficult, no matter how typical your child is (or isn't). It's tough, especially when you have to worry about things that other parents don't. Those late nights where no … Continue reading An Open Letter to Parents and Caregivers
Category: autism
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
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!
High and Low: Functioning labels
High and low. High functioning. Low functioning. I am told that there is nothing between. You are either one end or the other. There is no middle ground. High "You don't even look autistic," a stranger tells me. I spend the next day observing myself. I check my facial expressions. Am I supposed to not … Continue reading High and Low: Functioning labels
Just Keep Stimming 