NeurobeautifulLooking back over 2022, my two favorite memories were days when I visited bookstores. Both times, I was in a blue pinafore that makes me feel like Belle – and also happens to be made from stimmy embroidered corduroy – plus my comfy ear defenders.
The first time, I was researching book covers. My brain …
“As someone who knows you, ‘optimizing’ is actually more an underlying philosophy of yours than you may realize, so that in and of itself is worthy of some explanation.”
That was a note from my editor. However, I chose to focus my “Optimizing” chapter on practical applications of that philosophy – things it causes me …
Here’s a guided tour through every chapter of my new book, What I Mean When I Say I’m Autistic.
In my Introduction, I explain who the book is for, why I believe it matters, and what I mean by “unpuzzling.”
In my Prologue, I imagine going back in time for a conversation with Little …
For every autistic stereotype, there are also more nuanced versions. The same underlying cause can create an effect that’s more subtle, hidden entirely, or even the opposite of what you’d expect.
Trouble with eye contact is one example. Some autistics find it physically painful, but the mutitasking is what gets to me.
I find it …
I’m autistic – which means I miss what others catch, and I catch what others miss.
I often miss body language, sarcasm, social hierarchies, implied expectations, and the “big picture.”
I often catch visual details, conceptual patterns, logical inconsistencies, and subtle sounds.
Then, facing the consequences of all that I missed and the overwhelm of …
In high school, I learned not to correct how a teacher spells a word on the whiteboard, because it might make them feel embarrassed in front of the class.
In college, I learned not to correct how someone cuts a green pepper, because it might chafe at their lifelong fear of never doing anything right. …
Why did I add a gold infinity sign to my book cover, instead of a puzzle piece, even though my subtitle includes the word “unpuzzling”?
Because autistic people are not puzzles. That symbol has harmed people’s perception of us, causing them to think our actions don’t have logical reasons.
“Unpuzzling” is a word I …
It’s here! What I Mean When I Say I’m Autistic is now available in paperback, hardcover, and every kind of ebook.
For autistics everywhere, this is a book to help you understand your brain more deeply, with words you can borrow to describe who you truly are.
For non-autistics, it’s a book to see the …
Ways I self-advocate when I need reassurance:
“Please tell me a fact that I already know.”
Doesn’t matter what the fact is – mulling on truth keeps me grounded. Some people count sensory input (things they can see/hear/etc.) to reduce anxiety, but I find it less overwhelming to observe what’s inside me than what’s around …