What’s Your Squawkers McCaw? Creative Workplace Accommodations – Bev Harp. Bev has an animatronic parrot that she takes with her to work. Early on, one of her co-workers asked her what the bird’s function was, and Bev described how it helped her with regulation, smalltalk etc. She then described a few other autistic people, the accommodations they requested in the workplace, and how denying those accommodations negatively impacted both the autistic person and all the co-workers.
Inside Out
Science of Sadness and Joy: “Inside Out” gets childhood emotions right, by Jon Hamilton and Neda Ulaby.
Pixar’s film Inside Out is an animated fantasy that remains remarkably true to what scientists have learned about the mind, emotion and memory. Much of the film is spent inside Riley’s mind, which features a control center manned by five personified emotions: Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger and Disgust.
We have seen this film, and I highly recommend it!
Shut down
4 tips for when children with autism “shut down”, by Emma Dalmayne (The Mighty). Autistic shut-down gets far less publicity than the more obvious meltdowns, so it’s great to see this article explaining what’s happening for the autistic person, and how loved ones can help.
Invisible disability & flying
But You Look Fine to Me: Invisible Disability and Flying, by E.Amato. The author has an invisible disability. She is able to walk- for short distances on some days, and the distance between airport terminals is often more than she is capable of- or if she does walk, it drains her reserves that she may need later. She describes the “scowls, the down-the-nose stares, and the odd jealousy that comes off people like a bad scent” that she experiences when she requests a wheelchair at the airport, while visibly able to use her legs. Another clear description of both invisible disabilities, and disabilities where the level of difficulty experienced varies regularly.
Characteristics of Aspie females
Characteristics of Females with Aspergers and High-Functioning Autism (My Aspergers Child). 35 differences between Aspie girls and their peers, and a further 40 observations about young girls.
Diagnosing girls
Are girls with autism hiding in plain sight?, by Marina Sarris (Interactive Autism Network). A great summary of some of the differences between the genders wrt autism, the “4 o’clock explosions”, and the difference between how parents and teachers perceive girls’ differences. Very comprehensive and readable.
Cutting fingernails
Taking the stress out of cutting children’s fingernails, compiled by Yvonne Newbold (The Special Parent’s Handbook). Someone asked a question about cutting children’s nails on Yvonne’s Facebook page, and other parents responded with a deluge of anecdotes and suggestions! Yvonne compiled them into this article.
Toe-walking, trauma and truth
T is for Toe-walking, Trauma, and Truth-telling (Unstrange Mind blog). There’s a lot of great content in this post! The author writes about her physical pain due to decades of toe-walking, and puts it into the same category as head-banging- something that isn’t safe and can have long-term negative effects. She then discusses the psychological trauma of repeated correction, and the compounded trauma of lying to avoid getting reprimanded yet again.
Autism acceptance means helping, mentoring, guiding, but never trying to re-shape an Autistic person for no good reason beyond the comfort of others. If you accept Autistic people, you will accept that we often move differently, communicate differently, and think differently. Autism acceptance does not mean just letting us “go wild.” We need mentoring just like anyone else. Autism acceptance means working to understand why we do things and carefully judging before you try to change our behavior: do you want to change it to help us be healthier and happier? Or do you want to change it because you think other people will not accept us the way we are?
Stop Saying Savant!
S is for Stop Saying Savant Syndrome and Splinter Skills (Unstrange Mind blog).
The idea that some Autistics are “savants” impairs many people’s ability to see us as human beings. Yes many of us are really, really good at some things. That is not because Autistics are savants but rather because the Autistic mind latches on to things it loves and savors them thoroughly. This is not a separate competence in a desert of incompetence. This is an Autistic way of being. It is whole and to call it “savant syndrome” is to cut us into little pieces so you can say that you approve of this piece but that piece has just got to go.
Missing the bigger picture
Missing the bigger picture, by Miriam (FaithMummy blog). Therapists, services, professionals and schools often only think about the one child that they work with- yet their decisions and recommendations impact and affect the child’s whole family.
In my case both my children have additional support needs, but even if my daughter was ‘typical’ developing she should still be considered when it comes to matters of her brother. The impact on her is just as big, and at times even bigger, than on her brother.
The only problem is that both children have ‘projects’ that, while increasing their development and skills and helping their medical conditions, they will also both require huge amounts of time and support from me. I smile, and leave with yet more literature while thinking all the time, ‘what about my other child?’. My time is not exclusive to one child, even if their needs would call for this, and I also have a house to run and a husband who needs me too.
lovenlearning 