Autism Safety Tips for Playing Pokémon GO
Sometimes, autistic people can be a bit rigid in their behaviors and averse to new experiences. My daughter, especially, who has a high level of social anxiety, has a really hard time with any type of...
View ArticleLessons I Learned Encountering a Lost Autistic Child at the Air Show
A Guest Post By Austin Harris, Emergency Medical First Responder, Autism Specialist, CERT Instructor Air shows can be fun for kids of all ages… but add autism to the mix and you may have a crisis in...
View ArticleAutism Tips for Emergency Responders: Autism and Violence
I often get asked during my autism trainings for first responders whether or not it is more likely to see someone with autism using drugs and alcohol, specifically when I describe sensory issues and...
View ArticleI’m an Autistic Adult… and I’m in Purgatory
I’m 18. I graduated high school last July. I’m “high functioning” enough to be able to take care of my brother and myself when my mom is on night shift on the ambulance. I can dress myself (although...
View ArticleEmergency Responders: 7 Things You NEED to Know About Autism Wandering
As an autism mom, worry and fear can be my constant companions. My entire life can change in the blink of an eye, especially because my child wanders. My son has been wandering since he could walk. One...
View Article5 Possible Causes of Autism Self-Injurious Behavior
Both of my teens experience significant gastrointestinal issues as part of their autism. I was out running errands with my daughter (who just turned 19! How did this happen?!) and she had severe...
View Article7 Tips for Communicating with a Nonverbal Autistic Patient
Just because a person can’t speak doesn’t mean they have nothing to say. Communication is a basic human need. In fact, it falls fairly predominantly in the middle of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, under...
View ArticleBeyond Bullying: Autism and Sexual Abuse
I’m a petite single female working in public safety. I’m strong; I lift heavy weights six days a week, I run every other day, I do MMA workouts on the days I don’t run, and I take boxing classes on...
View ArticleAutism Tips for Emergency Responders: Temperature Regulation
Getting my son to wear a coat in the winter takes an act of Congress, regardless of the frigid outside temperatures. I used to think he was lazy, or perhaps that the material of the coat bothered him...
View ArticleAutism is Not a Boys’ Club
In Georgia, the statistics are cited as 1 in 39 boys and 1 in 181 girls have been diagnosed with autism. It is said boys are five times more likely to be autistic than girls. These numbers are in my...
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