Zoo Exiting Routine

Routines are critical for people with Asperger’s Syndrome / Autism Spectrum Disorder. Routines provide certitude, safety, meaning, and comfort in knowing. Below I describe a routine that my special Aspie relies upon. Today, we visited our local Zoo. My special Aspie has a specific Zoo exit routine that we must all follow. When exiting the […]

Autism and Family Estrangment

Coping with family estrangement is a rather new experience. With hindsight, one can note many of the innumerable contributing factors, instances, and experiences woven into a thick tapestry of separation. Parsing through such hindsight risks playing the blame game. Frankly, I’m to busy to wallow in such psychological mire. Better to focus on the good. […]

Failure is an Option. It’s how we Learn to Succeed.

The very cool JR Handley, shared this on Facebook the other day. via Peter Dinklage – Fail Better/Light Up The Night — © Written In Geek

A Parent with Asperger’s Take on Rules, Rewards, and Encouragement for his Special Aspie Child

Photo by Mike Wilson on Unsplash Rules. An Aspie’s blessing and curse. Blessing in the sense that rules help the person with Asperger’s to function by following a set of prescribed actions while avoiding a set of proscribed actions. Actions that an Aspie lacks intuitive capacity to discern governing rules. A curse in the sense that all human […]

Asperger’s and Transitioning to New-Old Routine

In the few days since we returned from our 2017 family vacation extravaganza, I have noted some interesting behavioral exhibits on the part of my special Aspie and I. We have been experiencing a process of transition from the vacation routine back to the old home routine. The behavioral exhibits have included loss of sleep, […]

Lessons from Road Trip with Aspies

Below is a list of lessons we learned over the last couple weeks on the road in the US. We essentially did a giant oval shaped drive, through the Southern US, from West to East and back again. 1. Need to plan down time for both Aspie’s. Make sure there is a quiet room, place, […]

Addendum: Emotional Whiplash of Autism – Love Conquers

Tonight, my lovely wife and I took advantage of being near her extended family and snuck out for some much needed couple time. After getting some superb soft serve ice cream, we came back, noted the kids were asleep, as were other relatives, and promptly went out the back door to sit on the porch […]

Emotional Whiplash of Autism

So much for tranquility. Couple days ago, we were visiting with my lovely wife’s grandparents. Salt of the earth people. Up to that point, tranquility I had experienced upon arriving at the beach, hard largely remained. Before proceeding further, a little background is necessary. In about 3 or 4 weeks, a milestone event will occur […]

Tranquility Experienced

Well, we made it to the beach. And, the fidget spinners helped, except when the kids, enduring the backseat of a very long car ride, would trade their spinners. At some point, one would ask (demand) for their spinner to be returned. Whereupon their sibling would protest, “I’m not done!” Followed by an escalating volume […]

From the Inside Out: An Autistic Shutdown

Originally posted on Everyday Autistic :
From the Inside Out: An Autistic Shutdown Autistics have shutdowns. It’s part of life. There are multiple root causes for a shutdown, including the result of sensory overload, physical and mental exhaustion, unexpected news, anxiety about an upcoming event, and upheaval in our schedule. Sometimes it comes in combination; other…

Odd Dad & His Aspie

Experiencing Autism Across Generations