Talking Taki-Taki – discussing communication differences between autistic individuals and neurotypicals; and why NT’s find autists ‘different’ (Asperger’s / ASD /ASC)
There is a mum in the school playground and she seems a little different - you could say she is quirky. There are a few small visual differences - maybe she has cool, coloured hair, the odd piercing or tattoo, and isn't following the fashion sense of most of the mums;...
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Growing up aspie in 1970s and 1980s Britain (asd, asc)
Growing up as an aspie kid in the seventies and eighties in Britain sucked. But in general, it sucked for everyone, in some respects. No one had heard of autism (outside of psychiatry circles) anyway.
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The emotional cutlery drawer of spoons, and the ‘social hangover’ (ASD, ASC, Asperger’s)
One of hardest difficulties to deal with when autistic can be the ‘social hangover’ – the after-effects of socialisation that deplete an autist’s energy. Let’s explore this concept further. The spoon theory Firstly, it’s important to realise that ALL autists use many,...
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If an autistic person were a tree: visualising autism & an autistic individual’s ‘being’
Here's our musing on what autism is, and how to visualise it, in terms of an autistic individual's 'being'. Far too many clinicians and family members are confused about what autism is, and what autism looks like. Autism is a neuro-developmental condition, and if...
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A balanced discussion: Are C-Sections Contributing to Autism Spectrum Disorders? (1) – there’s no conclusive evidence; and (2) let’s stop making women feel guilty!
An American health website recently posed the question to its followers and readers - Are C-Sections Contributing to Autism? (Ref 1). A facet of this contentious story is that C-sections alter the microbiome in the child; microbiomes being microorganisms that, among...
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UPDATED – Autism: Social communication, sensory issues and repetitive thought patterns or behaviours… The key features of autism, from a diagnostic perspective
This blog post marks a new, occasional series counting 100 autism FAQs. This article includes some info about the main diagnostic factors used for autism spectrum conditions (or ASCs - diagnostically referred to as ‘autism spectrum disorders’, or ASDs). (1)Social...
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Clarity – explaining the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorders (autism spectrum conditions) – inc. Asperger Syndrome
As an update to a previous BLOG that was written (pre-ICD-11), we have updated the info on the diagnostic criteria for ASCs (Autism Spectrum Conditions) or ASDs (Autism Spectrum Disorders) as follows: Despite many training providers, resource materials, clinicians and...
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‘Well, we’re all a little bit gay, aren’t we?’ Questionable responses to one’s inner coding, one’s DNA, one’s hard wired neurology. (Autism, ASC / ASD / Asperger’s)
It's the 21st-century - 2017 to be precise. I have told my friends and family that I am gay; I only realised myself, relatively recently - their responses run along a similar vein. They are generally a mixture of ambivalent, surprised and somewhat perplexed; and more...
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NOT walking in your shadow. Tips for breaking free from negativity and autistic shutdown (ASD / ASC / Asperger’s)
This blog is really about positivity. The author has been in something of an anxious, autistic ‘fug’ for a few weeks - a shutdown. Retreating, wallowing - it’s not a bad thing, it’s not something to feel too concerned about; it’s usually a necessarily evil for an...
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(3) #mygrandchildisautistic?! Why is routine so important to the autistic child? Why do autistic children struggle at occasions / parties? We answer grandparents’ questions on autism
This is the third in a new series of articles aimed at helping families and grandparents learn more about autism, and also support the parents of a newly diagnosed autistic child, and of course the child themselves. But firstly, why do we use the hashtag -...
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