When a person's body or brain works quite differently from most other people that difference is called a disability. Individuals can be born with their disability or their disability can occur later in life through accident or illness. Autism is a neuro-developmental disability that individuals are born with. Disability includes physical, sensory, cognitive, developmental, intellectual,… Continue reading Disability, Ableism & Inclusion
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Autism Reflections
A selection of short prose and memes on Autistic thinking, sensory experiences, language development, communication and parenting.
Are Social Skills ‘Deficits’ an inherent part of Autism? Or, do both Autistic & Neurotypical people need to learn how to socialise with each other?
“When I was little the most common thing other kids said to me about what they know of Autism is “Autistic kids find it hard to make friends” or “Autistic kids don’t know how to make friends”. If I asked for more information, like “why do Autistic kids have this trouble”, they did not know… Continue reading Are Social Skills ‘Deficits’ an inherent part of Autism? Or, do both Autistic & Neurotypical people need to learn how to socialise with each other?
How We Teach Our Autistic Children To Mask Their Autism (and their needs).
Sometimes it’s truly inadvertent and in these cases - a “once off, never repeated” scenario, but one that lingers with the child. Often it’s borne from the parents own challenges in regulating and managing their emotions. Other times, tragically, its a conscious and deliberate parenting choice that influences the parents every action and response towards… Continue reading How We Teach Our Autistic Children To Mask Their Autism (and their needs).
Talking to Children about their Autism Diagnosis
This list of free, Autistic-led resources, compiled by the I CAN NETWORK helps provide support to parents on how to talk to their children about Autism and / or being Autistic in a way that is respectful, accurate and validating. ▪️ From Reframing Autism, "Talking To Children About Autism." Dr. Melanie Heyworth, an Autistic mother… Continue reading Talking to Children about their Autism Diagnosis
My Many Ingredients
Autism is a part of me that makes me, me. It’s a big part because it’s how my brain thinks about and understands things differently. I have lots of other ingredients too. I’m kind. I’m clever. I’m playful. I’m cautious. I’m very sensitive. I’m observant. I’m a seeker - I like to learn about things.… Continue reading My Many Ingredients
Parent Perspective: What I would do Differently
Parent of Autistic tween shares what she would do differently if they had they had their time again.
Ten Facts About Communicating Non-verbally
“Music, touch, smiles - they all tell a story if we pay attention. Without speech, we have to use all our senses to connect on a more direct level”. Rami Kripke-Ludwig ”... I found my voice through pointing on my board. It was so frustrating (before then) to not be able to tell anyone how… Continue reading Ten Facts About Communicating Non-verbally
Language and Communication Differences in Non-Speaking Autistics
“The difference in how language is acquired and used means the vocabulary is different, the nuances are different, the structure of language and how words are formed is different, and our relationship with language is different”.
Autistic Pride: I am Proud of Who I Am
Autistic Pride Day, on the 18th June, is a growing grassroots initiative by the Autistic community. It is a day initiated and led by Autistics individuals themselves to celebrate their neurodiversity. It is distinctly separate from the Autism Awareness Day / week held in April each year, which tends to focus on Autism from a… Continue reading Autistic Pride: I am Proud of Who I Am
I am Cadence 