“I hope all first responders, from police officers to EMTs, and indeed the whole of society, learn about severe autism, not just TV-version autism.” – Adrienne, mother of a daughter on the autism spectrum, helped by an off-duty police officer to avoid harm to her daughter during a meltdown.

Whether a first responder has training in how to approach someone with autism can make a huge difference for many families at crucial times. People with autism tend to react differently and get overwhelmed more easily than neurotypical individuals due to various sensory sensitivities.  Continue Reading →

By Kerry Magro, Self-Advocate, National Speaker, and Author

Is not understanding sarcasm a ‘big deal’? Turns out it is because it is so prevalent, and not understanding it makes you stand out.

Someone once said that ‘sarcasm is a metric for potential.’ Often at times, this is one of the hardest struggles for those with autism growing up. Continue Reading →

By Anita Lesko, BSN, RN, MS, CRNA, CAS, (and on the autism spectrum)

For some teenagers, getting a driver’s license might symbolize their freedom and new life as an adult. But not every teenager counts the days until they get their driver’s license. I learned to drive in high school along with the rest of my classmates.

At that time in my life, I didn’t know I’m autistic. What I did know, however, was that I felt scared and instinctively knew I wasn’t ready to drive.

Understanding the Difference Between Written Traffic Rules and Applying them for Someone with Autism

I did great on the written exam. Being behind the wheel out on the road with the instructor was a different story.

Continue Reading →

By Elayne Pearson, C.A.S., Special-needs Preparedness Specialist, is an award-winning writer, poet, presenter, advocate, author, and actress.

Sometimes sensitivity to touching hair, touching the face, or putting inanimate objects that might put pressure on the hair or face can be a sign of late-onset autism. In our case, this was particularly confusing until we figured out what was going on.

It can also be quite stressful. Continue Reading →