The Articulate Autistic
Bio
I'm a late-diagnosed autistic/ADHD woman who translates autistic communication, behavior, and intentions through comprehensive writing and one-to-one consultations.
Stories (31/0)
Why Does My Autistic Loved One Ignore Me?
Imagine you're finally home after a tough day. You have a nice cup of tea in hand and have gone out to the porch to watch the sunset. There's a light breeze, the crickets are just beginning to chirp, and you can feel your tense muscles relax one by one as you sink into your favorite deck chair and enjoy the peace of nature.
By The Articulate Autistic2 months ago in Families
Special Education Teachers: Assume Positive Intent When Autistic Students Experience Social Miscommunication
If you’re a special education teacher working with autistic children, it’s important to be aware that autistic children don’t socialize “incorrectly”, they socialize differently according to their neurotype.
By The Articulate Autistic2 months ago in Education
Please Be Very Specific When Making a Request of An Autistic
"There's dog poop on the floor.” My aunt once said this to me as I was carrying some groceries through the enclosed porch and into the kitchen. My response was, “Oh, OK,” and I stepped around it each time as I took two or three more trips to get the rest of my shopping. I thought it was strange that she kept repeating the same thing as I went in and out of the door; “There's poop on the floor.” I thought, 'Yes, I know. I'm avoiding stepping in it, don't worry.'
By The Articulate Autistic2 months ago in Families
Are Your Questions Triggering Your Autistic Loved One's Fight-or-Flight Response?
For many autistic people, being asked a question can trigger anxiety. Even if they're pretty basic questions such as, “What did you do this weekend?” or “What did you have for breakfast?”
By The Articulate Autistic2 months ago in Families
Mastering One Social Expectation Doesn't Mean Your Autistic Loved One Will Suddenly Know Them All
There's a concerning misconception around how autistic people learn neurotypical social skills (and when I say 'neurotypical social skills', I mean just that, as they differ from natural autistic ways of socializing) that I want to address. Traits and behaviors that are considered 'the norm' (and that neurotypical people pick up on simply by being in their environment and around others of their neurotype) are not traits and behaviors that come naturally to autistic folks.
By The Articulate Autistic2 months ago in Families
Why the Practice of Mindfulness Might Backfire on Autistic People
Like many autistic people, I have always been a highly anxious person. I started having panic attacks at 15 years old, and I've probably had c-PTSD for even longer. Life as an undiagnosed autistic person is traumatizing, full stop.
By The Articulate Autistic2 months ago in Psyche
10 Autistic Traits That Are Frequently Misinterpreted and Misunderstood
As a late-identified autistic person, I know what it’s like to have my everyday, natural traits–-traits that I don’t even consciously think about, scrutinized and reacted to in ways that are strange and sometimes frightening to me.
By The Articulate Autistic2 months ago in Humans
Attention Special Education Teachers: Forcing Autistic Children to Socialize Can Be Dangerous
Autistic children often have trauma around socializing with their peers, so even though it’s a common goal in a classroom with autistic children to learn to socialize, it should never be forced. Forcing a child to interact with and spend time with other kids can worsen their social phobia, cause emotional dysregulation, and trigger meltdowns–and, it can be downright dangerous.
By The Articulate Autistic2 months ago in Education
Common Misconceptions About Autism and Love
I've seen posts floating around on social media from parents who are overjoyed when their autistic child says, "I love you" for the first time, and while I understand that's a joyful moment, what concerns me is the number of parents who may mistakenly believe their autistic child doesn't love them because they won't ever be able to say it out loud or they show it in ways that are confusing to the neurotypical brain.
By The Articulate Autistic2 months ago in Families
A Permanent Residence in the Uncanny Valley - Face Blindness From an Autistic Perspective
Prosopagnosia, also known as face blindness, is common in neurodivergent people. This is just one more factor in how our brains work that can make the neurotypical world confusing and frightening for us.
By The Articulate Autistic3 months ago in Humans
“So, You Don't Know Right From Wrong?” - A Common Misconception About Social vs Moral Awareness Among Autistic People
“So, does this mean you don't know right from wrong?” This is something an ex of mine asked me a long time ago, and it has stuck with me for many years. At the time, I was trying to explain how I didn't know when I did things wrong, and this was their response.
By The Articulate Autistic3 months ago in Humans
