It is strange to me.

Used to want to be like everyone else. The looks, the way people talk, even the popular trends that would be discussed. Now a days, I look, and see if it is okay to touch. In other words, if there's something that's popular, I tend to ponder over it and decide if I want to be a part of it. A running gag, a fashion style, a popular television series, even the way people think about stuff.

Trends sort of became a curiosity to me. If I don't be a part of it, I would be left out and unnoticed by the community. Is that a bad thing? Depends on how ya see it.

Got nothing against trends. I like'em! Trends feel like discoveries that someone has shared with me when I take the time to make my own discoveries. Take for example, music. Most of the time I like to fire up a music streaming service and go find bands that aren't really heard in the radio. Many times even today I would listen to the same song over and over again, and would take a while to go listen to something...

Many children with autism watch the same video over and over again. The question is: Should you let your child with autism watch the same video over and over again?

The answer is yes! Most likely they are using that part of the video to develop language, or are using it as a “touchstone” to help them handle the sensory input around them.

You can use that repetitive activity as a bridge into other interests. It may seem strange at first, but once you understand the reason that your child with autism watches a video over and over again, you will learn how to use that as a took for their development.

So next time that they are watching the same thing repetitively, sit with them, be interested in what they are doing, and have them show you the specific part of the video they are watching.

Look for faces, mouth movements, and other clues as to why your child might be watching that particular section.

Most likely they are trying to add that specific activity to their world,...

It has been one topic that I have been pondering over when someone asked me what were some of my fears were. Dinosaurs were one of them; But then something about this topic of fear got me even more fascinated. Because it can be a similar study in the topic of humor. What could be seen as not that funny, to someone with autism, they're laughing their heads off. Same with fear, what could be considered not so scary, to someone with autism, they're frightened.

For example, speaking to others. Afraid of saying the wrong things. I know I sure had my fair share of those moments... through experience. Rather be the silent protagonist in whatever goes on. But many people with autism can have the ability to speak, and speaking itself can be a skill that can be mastered. To the point where people become keynote speakers and singers on stage. Another example of an unusual fear based on what I have experienced would be birds. May be because of an Alfred Hitchcock movie I've watched; But even...

From humble beginnings, author and writer, Tyler McNamer, casually introduces himself as AutismWorks was still under development shortly after he wrote and published his first book, Population: ONE.

Here is Tyler's first appearance in the video sharing channel.

Introducing the first video to the AutismWorks video sharing channel. When we were first developing AutismWorks, my dad took the time to share the audience on what AutismWorks will be about as we were building the community.

Enjoy the first video!

Second time became the charm.

Long ago, Dad took me to the drag races when I was twelve. Felt like the worst place to be. Reasons for that was:

• Outdoor
• Cold
• Strange smells involving foods and gasoline
• Incredibly loud noises
• Vibrations of the race cars as they speed by

Was a beautiful nightmare. I say beautiful because that trip has taught me something very important that I will get to in a little bit.

I had everything in attempt to make it a better experience. Earplugs, headphones, and layered coats; Still didn't work! Even when things got quieter on the race track, I just never knew when the next time the cars roar on the racetrack; Always anticipating the next loud sound that even with the earplugs and the headphones, I still felt like I needed to cover my ears and my head.

Lots of backlash for Dad. People would think that he was trying to hurt me in the drag races because of the whole autism thing, but Dad did this because of a very fascinating reason.

The reason why was this....

The girls had open arms,  but I thought they just wanted two high fives, but they came up to me and gave me a big hug. This happened a lot, and almost every time I was very surprised and  would just freeze. I knew they they were just being friendly and kind, but it was very uncomfortable for me.

I was used to receiving hugs from family members and that was pretty much it, but hugs from other people? “WHAT IS GOING ON?!” I said in my head. Being touched was a huge thing growing up. There were rules that I needed to follow. It was strictly forbidden because it’s not appropriate, and I needed to keep my hands to myself unless I’m introducing myself and shaking their hand. 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, matter of fact I welcomed it.

But in my head it just felt very weird and odd and I didn’t  want to break the rule because it’s not...

Repeating footage and/or sound over and over again. Why?

Here were some of the reasons for my part in terms of footage like videos.

• Facial and body expressions in certain moments that spark interest
• Part of the footage where there's a neat musical part even if it's short
• Wanting to catch something thinking it was abnormal
• A line of dialogue that sounds noteworthy for real life situations
• Certain patches of color or lack of that is worth seeing again
• A funny or cool moment

Here were some of the reasons for my part in terms of sounds including music.

• Sound effects that involves a fat beat that sounds neat like a heartbeat
• Sounds become so addictive in a way during a game that it's hard to move on
• Parts of music that become calm all of a sudden after some energy
• Music in itself calms and relaxes the mind
• Hard to expand on music when the same song is being played over and oever
• A part of the lyrics that feel most appropriate depending on what's going on

I would repeat VHS tapes and...

Would you believe me when I say that partying is a skill to master? May not have been hard for many, in fact, so many people are looking forward for another social gathering involving food, drinks, and entertainment. I... wasn't so much way back in the day.

When parties would come up as a topic of choice, I would get so scared and nervous of the thought of parties. Why was that? For my case, it was:

• Crowded areas
• Loud music
• Interacting with others
• Confetti

Oh the confetti! That was the worst! I remembered one kid threw a bunch of confetti at me and just wanted to go home. Were we against parties when I was little? Nope; Mom and Dad knew some things can be challenging for parties, but that has been the idea of the challenges in the first place. To be challenged to better myself, because they know I can be better then what I was currently.

In a way, we learned how to celebrate properly; And there have been so many things to celebrate about. However we celebrated; Small ones like...

I do not know what it is like to not have autism, so that is why I would take mental notes into understanding how it all works. Sort of has been a thing I have been doing for a very long time since I was a small child.

Something that has come to mind for a very long time. I would take my time to look at someone. Look at the way they move their body, the way they speak, even the way they think on whatever. This kind of observation started off when parents encouraged me to imitate others at school. Imitate such as sitting on the chair by the desk, how to play soccer during recess time, and raise their hands until they're called on so they can speak.

I knew I was different when I was in kindergarten. Have different emotions, be sad over things that shouldn't really be sad about, not being flexible with whatever goes on, and have had a curious fascination with the color red. And once I fully understood what the heck I was doing that seemed different, I just stopped and looked around...