December 11, 2022

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 …

December 11, 2022

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 …

December 9, 2022

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 …

December 5, 2022

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. …

November 29, 2022

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 …

November 27, 2022

My autism evaluation included an IQ test. But they didn’t tell me that ahead of time, so I assumed every part was testing for autism.

I felt relaxed and confident the whole time – trusting that I would be good at the parts autistic people tend to get right, and bad at the parts autistic …

October 25, 2022

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 …

September 26, 2022

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 …

September 25, 2022

Curiosity is important to me.

If I think someone is wrong, I try to learn more. If they extend the same grace to me, then we can figure out the truth together.

Sometimes, this causes me to change my mind.

I used to say I’m an aspie. Now I say I’m autistic.

I used to …

August 28, 2022

I got my first homework planner when I was 11. It was life-changing, but another year passed before I began to apply the same concept to personal goals.

In the meantime – the year leading up to my first to-do list – I made an epic mistake. A list could have saved me, and it …