Living on the Spectrum

I’ve wanted to write down what led to my mental health crisis in 2019. I’d graduated college and was working my second activity director job. I wasn’t meeting the expectations and going to work every day felt like I was reminded of how much of a failure I was. I had to change how I…

I’ve always been a planner. I always wanted to know what was next in the line of daily or weekly activities. Not knowing caused and still causes a good bit of anxiety. Adults were often frustrated by my question “What’s next?”. Most were not kind or patient. They didn’t understand what it was like for…

While exploring a new park today, I came across two groups of people taking photos for their quinceañera. This got me thinking back to what I was experiencing when I was around that age. I started high school at age fourteen. I wanted to be as prepared as possible for what I’d been warned was…

I’ve always had a complicated relationship with fashion and clothes. Textures of different clothing items could elicit such visceral emotions starting when I was a toddler. I will remember this forever. My grandmother got me a cute polka-dotted rain jacket when I was a toddler. It was stiff and plasticky. I could feel it crunch…

We all know the saying “I’m at the end of my rope.” This is often muttered after a particularly grueling day or just a difficult or trying experience. I’ve come to realize during my short life that everyone has different lengths of rope for different things. This has been on my mind because recently I…

I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about the generations of those with autism spectrum disorder in my family, myself included. While life has gotten better with each subsequent generation, there is still so much work to do. I can only speak to what it’s like trying to navigate this world as an adult…

Growing up, sports and I had a complicated relationship. I’m not sure if it was because I was always a bit of a klutz or that I was happiest in the air conditioning listening to audiobooks for hours. The first sport I played was soccer. I don’t remember much besides it being hot and sticky.…

It’s hard to think of something that I’ve embarked on in my adult life more complicated than dating. I’d always had crushes and wanted to spend time with the young men I found engaging, but didn’t know how to go about doing so.  My first substantial crush occurred in sixth grade and lasted for six…

Ah, you can see it now. The sand between your toes, the sun on your face, and the smell of the ocean filling your nostrils. The perfect vacation is just days away. This vision is something many families have in their heads this summer. Planning and enjoying a vacation can be a bit more complicated…

This post is advice I wish I’d received before I went away to college. I lived away from home all four years, so some of this advice is tailored to that experience. However, you’re furthering your education, I wish you the best of luck and congrats on your graduation from high school! Find your resources…