Hello, readers. Thought you might enjoy this letter to my spouse Ming. It’s part of an email I sent him this morning. It’s about emotions in our mini-family lately, and how autism is part of the struggle. Today is my mom’s birthday, and I’m crying a lot because I miss her. Unexpressed intense grief can… Continue reading letter to my spouse
autism and sexuality
Hello, I’ve been thinking about autism and sexuality for a long time. A friend of mine with autism mentioned she feels sorry for people who don’t have autism–because of sex. She was saying that sensory sensitivities mean some people with autism feel sexual pleasure more intensely. Wow, yes. I’ve been told by a few folks… Continue reading autism and sexuality
headphones as assistive devices
Hello, I’ve been thinking about tools I use to survive in a world that’s not made for disabled people. I like headphones as assistive devices. loud world For a long time, I saw wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, grabbers, hearing aids, canes, screen readers, and shower chairs as assistive devices that mattered. It was only recently that… Continue reading headphones as assistive devices
Designing for every user – Neurodiversity in the workplace
Hello, how are you doing? My spouse Ming and I recently watched a zoom called Designing for every user – Neurodiversity in the workplace. That bright art glass pic is a screenshot of the scientist presenter’s website. I saw something about the free zoom on eventbright. Sounded great. I don’t have a workplace or plan… Continue reading Designing for every user – Neurodiversity in the workplace
smells
Hello, I have autism which includes sensory sensitivities, including sensitivity to smell. When my spouse and I visited Lotusland botanic garden this summer, one of the other guests on a tour was wearing perfume. I was angry because I was there to experience a place. Plants and the earth have a distinctive smell that I… Continue reading smells
uncouth
“Can I give you some feedback?” I asked my spouse Ming. I wanted to tell him how he had been uncouth. “It’s negative feedback. Two of them.” “Sure,” he said. Ming is the only person I’ve ever known who actually wants feedback about what he’s doing and how he made a mistake. Most people seem… Continue reading uncouth
appropriate
Hello, do you find yourself in spaces where it’s hard to know if you’re being appropriate, stimming or doing anything different to take care of yourself? It’s hard for me to know if my ways of taking care of myself are ok. There can be unspoken rules, and the lack of clarity is confusing. If… Continue reading appropriate
do all autistic people love Amelia Bedelia?
Oh hey, how are you doing? Just wondering: do all autistic people love Amelia Bedelia? Do you know those children’s books by Peggy Parish? The whole deal is Amelia Bedelia is very literal minded. Some say people with autism such as myself are also literal minded. Yes, I can understand figures of speech pretty well,… Continue reading do all autistic people love Amelia Bedelia?
autistic music
Hello, do you know about autistic music? I’ve only begun to dip my toe into the water of this music topic. The only autistic band I know of is this: Astereotypie. A friend on a music facebook group linked to an Astereotypie song. I watched the video and was blown away. It was one of… Continue reading autistic music
autism and mental health
Hello, I’ve been thinking about autism and mental health. When I was first learning about autism as something potentially part of my life, it was from a friend who was afab and genderfluid. My friend was explaining to me how they had never been diagnosed with autism because doctors don’t know how to see autism… Continue reading autism and mental health