Picky eating is a common challenge among children, especially those with autism, often leading to a nutritional balancing act for parents and caregivers. In "Becoming ONE," it's highlighted that taste buds mature over time, a beacon of hope for those navigating the narrow dietary preferences of their children. This blog post delves into the world of picky eating, diet, nutrition, and the evolving palate, offering insight and strategies to enrich the diets of children with autism. With patience and understanding, the journey from a limited menu to a more diverse plate is not just possible but probable.

Understanding Picky Eating in Autism

For many children with autism, sensory sensitivities extend to taste, texture, and smell, turning mealtime into a potential battleground. This heightened sensitivity can limit food acceptance, often restricting diets to a handful of preferred items. Recognizing this as a sensory challenge rather than mere stubbornness is the first step toward...

In a world teeming with diverse interests and passions, fixations often carry a negative connotation, particularly in the context of autism. However, as Tyler McNamer insightfully observes, these intense interests are not just quirks; they are windows into potential futures and careers. From animation enthusiasts evolving into talented animators to car aficionados becoming expert mechanics, fixations are a source of inspiration and motivation. This blog post aims to shed light on the beauty of fixations, emphasizing their benefits while acknowledging the importance of balance. It's time to celebrate fixations for the wonderful opportunities they present.

Fixations, or deep interests, offer a unique lens through which individuals see the world. For those on the autism spectrum, these passions can provide comfort, joy, and a profound sense of accomplishment. They serve as a foundation for learning, allowing for an immersive educational experience that traditional methods might not...

Sensitivity to the world around us is a double-edged sword, especially for individuals with autism. The heightened experience of touch, hearing, smell, sight, and taste can transform everyday environments into overwhelming landscapes. Yet, this sensitivity is not just a challenge to overcome; it's a unique way of perceiving the world, rich with intensity and detail. This blog post celebrates the beauty of sensory sensitivity in autism, offering strategies for managing sensory overload and gradually reducing its impact. It's a journey towards finding balance, understanding, and acceptance in a world that often feels too loud, too bright, or too chaotic.

Understanding Sensory Sensitivity
Sensory sensitivity in autism means experiencing the world in high definition. What might be a gentle touch, a quiet sound, or a mild aroma to one person can be intense, overwhelming, or even painful to someone with autism. Recognizing and respecting this heightened sensitivity is the first step toward...

Patterns are a fundamental part of the world around us, guiding everything from the changing seasons to the rhythms of our daily lives. For children with autism, patterns can offer a sense of structure and predictability in a world that often feels chaotic and overwhelming. However, the true potential of patterns lies not just in their ability to provide comfort and security, but also in their capacity to foster learning, growth, and even breakthroughs. This blog post explores how patterns can be utilized as a powerful tool for children with autism and why breaking them is sometimes exactly what's needed.

The Power of Patterns
Patterns help organize information, making it easier for children with autism to understand their environment. Structured routines and visual schedules can reduce anxiety, enhancing the ability to focus and engage in learning. Beyond daily routines, patterns in music, art, and nature can be therapeutic, offering unique pathways to communication and expression.

Meltdowns are often a challenging aspect of autism, both for children experiencing them and their caregivers. Unlike tantrums, meltdowns are not a means to seek attention but a reaction to overwhelming situations. Understanding and addressing the triggers can significantly reduce their frequency and intensity. This post explores effective strategies to prevent meltdowns in children with autism, offering a beacon of support for parents and educators alike. By fostering a supportive environment and employing specific preventive measures, we can navigate towards calmer waters together.

Recognize the Signs Early
The key to preventing a meltdown is early recognition of its precursors. Children with autism often exhibit signs of distress before a meltdown occurs. These can include changes in vocal tone, facial expressions, body language, or repetitive behaviors. By staying attuned to these signals, caregivers can intervene early, potentially averting a full-blown meltdown. Developing a...

Following a routine can be hard.
Starting a new routine can be harder.
Constantly changing routines can be the hardest.

What if constant change becomes routine? A moment where the same becomes a challenge. I will be the first to tell you that I have not set a good example in commitment to routine. Especially when it comes to blog post. So on behalf of everyone inside and outside of AutismWorks, I'm sorry.

So I am working on it. New routine! More posts. I have learned that blogs can be good sometimes. Now onto the new routines in general. What can we do to get back into the new routine of things? Because I can tell you from experience, I tend to think in patterns. Do you or anyone you know think similarly? You're not alone on it.

Look. I get it. New things, deep hesitation, that feeling of messing up on the first attempt, mixed feelings; Especially towards new experiences like getting that new job, living on your own, or getting to know and see a new person more often than usual...

Seeing double? That is alright! We are introducing a new member in AutismWorks and his name is Tyler. Tyler, Tiny Tyler, Little Tyler, Puppet Tyler, however you would like to call him; I tend to change up the name every so often for the fun of it.

Who is this Tyler? That is what I am still attempting to figure out. Just getting to know him as I introduced him not too long ago. The humble beginnings started when we wanted to come up with ideas involving kids and the topic of autism. I have been aware of this muppet that has been introduced in the show, Sesame Street, and their take is pretty fair and different. Nothing to really say about how others portray autism using puppets other then I support their takes on the topic; I just know that when I would do it, it would be coming from someone that lives and negotiates with autism every day.

The puppet version of Tyler was highly encouraged by my team. I was very much against the idea because for one, I thought it was far too...

There was a humongous opportunity I took this year! The opportunity to speak at an elementary school in Kirkland, Washington! I was so excited about it! One of the first times in a long time of speaking in person in front of people and not in front of a camera. Especially when children are involved, then I was really looking forward to speaking at the event! Wanted it to be near perfect for the kids.

The topic that the teachers wanted me to focus on talking about was all about acceptance, community, and never dissing your ability. Completed the outline, practiced, and was off to the races! This was also the very first time I have done a keynote event without anyone with me. Normally, I would be accompanied by either my dad or my mom, but on that day, it had to be me; Everyone else was occupied. Population: ONE! Literally!

Was not as bad as I thought it would be. I now want more of it! Check in at the motel, get settled, explore a bit, enjoy some recreational activities, and be ready...

Ever had something like this happen to you? You have done something that you were so not proud of and you know it was so bad you may have gotten the wrong impression from others or even yourself that you just want to hide from everyone because the mistake was that bad?

Yeah; me too.

It hurts! Believe me, I have had my fair share of incredibly embarrassing mistakes; and many mistakes after that. Many many many more! I am ONE to tell you that these mistakes have never been intentional; if they were, I probably would not be out there being a keynote speaker. I could go on and on about the large majority of these mistakes here, but this is not a good time to talk about them for now; granted, thinking back, they were all kinds of bitter-sweetness and worthy of long lasting scars, but not today. This is about how to recover from them. Here is how it worked for me.

• STOP what you are doing.
• THINK what has happened.
• ACCEPT the events.
• LOOK at the situation.
• REACH OUT for assistance.
• LISTEN...

To be touched in a way that shows compassion and love was difficult for me to fully process.

At the middle school dances, the girls had open arms, but I thought they just wanted two high-fives. Then they came up to me and gave me a big hug. This happened a lot! Almost every time, I was very surprised and would just freeze. I knew they were just being friendly and kind, but it was very uncomfortable for me. For a while that is.

I was used to receiving hugs from family members, but hugs from other people? “What is going on?” I would ask myself. Being touched was a huge thing for me growing up. There were rules I needed to follow. I needed to keep my hands to myself unless I was shaking someone’s hand when introducing myself. That was it. Those were the rules. So when someone I didn’t know gave me a hug I wanted to be kind and not reject the offer; as a matter of fact, I welcomed it.

In my head, this entire situation felt very weird and odd. I didn’t want...