Maureen Bennie’s blog on a wide variety of subjects pertaining to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Maureen is a mother of a son and a daughter ages 24 and 22 with autism. She has managed an at-home Intensive Behavioral Intervention Program for eight years for her children. She has written hundreds of articles and book reviews that have appeared in publications and on websites throughout North America and the UK. Maureen also gives presentations both live and online across Canada on various topics about autism, available books and resources and how to use them.
The month of June marks Autism Awareness Centre’s (AACI) 22nd anniversary. When I co-founded this company in 2003, my children were 4 and 6 years old; I was only four years in to the autism journey. So much has changed in the autism world. We are hearing more autistic voices, improving our understanding of autistic neurology, moving away from compliance…
Exercise and physical activity have numerous benefits for autistic individuals. It builds strength, stability and motor planning skills, all of which help a person perform daily living activities. Autistic people are more likely to experience health and mental health issues; engaging in physical activity reduces these risks and improves overall well-being. Incorporating exercise, movement, and outdoor play can improve a…
I recently had a very upsetting thing happen. My adult autistic son’s daily living and medical benefits were abruptly terminated. I learned of this by hearing a brief message left on my phone. The person from the AISH benefits office said my son no longer met the eligibility criteria for his benefits because his assets amount was too high. We…
Presuming competence with autistic individuals means that they are valued as whole individuals with the right to express their thoughts, feelings, and opinions. It also includes the right to communicate, the right to be treated age appropriately, to have their views and feelings respected, and to be involved in decisions about their lives. Autistic individuals will need accommodations and supports…
Info dumping (or infodumping) is a type of communication that autistic people do. Also referred to as monologuing, it involves an autistic person talking excessively and in detail about a topic involving their interests and passions. It feels like a natural way to communicate because of its directness and focus on facts and logic. Erika Sanborne, autistic educator and researcher,…
Autistic individuals may have difficulty with planning and organizational skills because of challenges with executive functions. Planning skills involve the ability to think ahead, set goals, and create a strategy to accomplish tasks or activities. Organizational skills involve managing time, materials, and information in a structured manner. Both of these skills are essential for autistic individuals to navigate daily activities…
The term “flow” was first introduced in 1990 by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. Csikszentmihalyi described it as “the experience of complete absorption in the present moment” (Nakamura and Csikszentmihalyi, 2009). Flow describes a mental state during which an individual is fully absorbed in what they are doing, losing awareness of time and feeling intrinsically motivated by the activity itself. Although flow…
All behavior is viewed through a judgmental lens. This lens is influenced by several things: Our past experience – how our parents disciplined us, how we parent our own children, the culture/environment we were raised in Our beliefs – Do we believe that children should act and react in a certain way? Our knowledge and understanding – of neurological differences,…
Caregiving has its rewards and challenges. While caregiving is a labor of love, it also has another side to it that affects employment, physical/mental health, relationships, and well-being. As we age, we also have to assess how feasible is it to provide support long-term because of retirement, health, and the reality of aging. Caregiving can be all consuming at times,…
Restraint collapse, a phenomenon that is becoming more recognized in the neurodivergent community, happens when individuals who have been concealing or suppressing their neurodivergent characteristics for an extended period of time suddenly experience a significant breakdown in their ability to regulate emotions and cope with stressors. It may present as emotional outbursts, shutdowns, meltdowns, withdrawing, or physical symptoms like fatigue…
The definition of communication is the exchange of thoughts, opinions or information by speech, writing or nonverbal expression. Communication skills are important for everyone because they help a person learn, understand the world, connect with others, and express their thoughts and feelings. Autistic individuals often have a different way way of communicating and a range of communication skills and abilities…
Autistic meltdowns, often confused with tantrums, is a reaction to intense feelings of being overwhelmed, distressed, or dysregulated. Tantrums are different because they are goal-oriented and typically stem from the frustration of not getting what a person wants in that moment. A meltdown is never a contrived or pre-meditated act, nor does it have a goal. They can be a…
The Christmas season is a time of giving and receiving – gift exchanges at school or work, Secret Santa, sharing gifts with family and friends. Gift giving and receiving can be stressful for autistic individuals. Some autistic children find presents overwhelming. Tearing off wrapping paper can be hard for people with fine motor issues. Others might feel anxious about not…
Research estimates that about 90% of autistic individuals have sensory processing disorder (SPD). Sensory issues are included as part of the diagnostic criteria for autism in the DSM-V. Having these difficulties can affect communication, social skills, and behavior. Every autistic person is unique and so are their sensory sensitivities. Here are some of the common sensory sensitives around the eight…
Therapists such as occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, physiotherapists, psychologists and other specialists can be a big part of an autistic individual’s life. In order for sessions to work well, the therapist has to build a trusting, respectful relationship with the person and understand who they are. Because each person is an individual, one strategy won’t fit all nor will…