To my esteemed readers: In this challenging time, I would like to encourage you to seek out and donate to your local food banks if you are able. You can go to this website to locate one in your area. Thanks! -TGA
search
- Follow this great ape on WordPress.com
most read
follow the ape on Twitter
My TweetsSections
tags
- #YesAllWomen
- actuallyautistic
- anger
- animals
- answers
- anxiety
- appearance
- ASD
- Asperger
- Aspergers
- autism
- Buddhism
- busyness
- chronic pain
- confusion
- coping
- depression
- desperation
- disability
- doubt
- effort
- emotional reaction
- empathy
- fairness
- faith
- fear
- friend
- fun
- futility
- god
- good intentions
- graduate student
- guilt
- gullible
- healing
- health insurance
- holiday
- hope
- humor
- inner monologue
- insomnia
- invisible disability
- judgmental
- learning
- life change
- loneliness
- luck
- manipulation
- massage therapy
- media
- misinformation
- money
- nerve ablation
- nerve pain
- neurodivergent
- neurotypical
- normal
- ordeal
- orthopedist
- pain
- personal crisis
- pharmacy
- physical therapy
- politics
- rage
- self care
- self loathing
- self love
- sexism
- specialist
- spontaneity
- suffering
- surgery
- vacation
- work
archives
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- August 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- July 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- January 2018
- October 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- January 2017
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
I am so grateful to have found your articles and blog. My 12-year old son is high functioning ASD and we are trying so hard to understand his internal experience so that we can help shape his school and environments to be supportive to his needs. While I know that will only go so far to mitigate his challenges, it’s a place to start. Thank you, thank you, thank you. If you have any recommendations for where we can turn for ASD tween/teen resources, I’m all ears. AND, I’m in awe of the courage it takes to make it through every day for you, my son and others challenged with high functioning autism. When you “look normal”, all expectations apply and standards are held. That has got to be so difficult every day. You are so brave.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! Your son’s best resource is you, actually; maintaining an awareness of his sensory environment means you can be there for him in a lot of ways that he may be unable to articulate. Just the fact that you love and accept him for who he is is so important, and he is lucky to have you.
Resources vary widely depending on location. My first step would be to do a little online sleuthing to see what services might be available in your town, either through local government, the public education system, or private entities specializing in working with those on the spectrum. Good luck!
LikeLike
Thank you for the article in the Post today which led me to you. My son is starting GMU in the fall and I have so many concerns. I look forward to reading previous posts for tips and reassurance.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for your March 4 Washington Post essay. http://smagoblog.wordpress.com
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just quit a job of 4 years because of almost constant harassment, intimidation and berating from co-workers in my small office and a boss that stood idly by. 4 years and they never “got” me and sometimes you could tell that after they would tell me how they felt…it was a relief for them. I stayed strong but eventually resigned. Saturday was my last day. I’ve now had 3 whole says where no one was mean to me for no reason.
Your article in the WA POST 3 March 2020 was dead on in so many ways for me. I have shared it widely but had to comment here. Thank you.
Last week I finally was brave enough to test. AQ 30. Borderline. High functioning Aspergers. I’m going to start reading this blog as I am lost and need guidance. Thank you for your article. You helped one person today and that person is truly grateful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing your experience; I am simultaneously heartbroken and inspired by your words. Be well!
LikeLike
I just learned of your blog from a friend of mine. Although both of us are deaf, we also both function like hearing people at times (probably equivalent to high-functioning autism as you describe. My friend and I also recognize “that look” you mention, having encountered it whenever we seemingly ignore people we didn’t hear, or think we’re responding to something we thought we heard (but were wrong, so it seems like a non-sequitur), etc. We’re members of the club–if not the same one, at least overlapping ones.
LikeLiked by 1 person