Social overdrive
Why a quick mind froze at a simple hello, and one simple idea to try.
Understand your nonverbal autistic child · Tyler’s Early-Years Parent Program
What is your child thinking when the words won’t come?
“I so wish I could understand what my son was thinking.”Jody McNamer, Tyler’s dad
Now grown, Tyler explains what was going on inside his own head as a young autistic boy: the silence, the screams, the senses, the feelings. And what helped.
Start the Program — $29.95By Tyler McNamer, autistic author & speakerAuthor of Population ONE, over 190,000 copies soldWith his dad, Jody
Does this sound like home?
When your child can’t tell you what’s wrong
Tyler’s first words came out as noises, whispers or screams. People looked scared or confused, so he chose to stay silent. Inside, he says, his mind was already “speaking in paragraphs.”
This program is his side of the story.
- Your child is silent, or words come out as sounds, screams or movie lines
- Loud places, clothing tags or a strong smell can end the day in a meltdown
- Your child looks angry, even when you think they might be happy
- You want to hear from someone who lived it, not only from experts
How to help a nonverbal autistic child communicate
“Shake hands? High five?”
Frame by frame
“The pump clicks”
Eyebrows “mostly down”
Counting to 57
“The best investment”
“The burrito”
“What is ___?”
What you’ll discover inside
Real moments from Tyler’s early years, and the small, practical steps his family used.
The Sesame Street close-up
Why watching the same scene again and again was really study time.
The gas tank
The simple picture Tyler and Jody use for sensory overload, and when to stop.
The face that looked angry
Why Tyler looked upset when he was happy, and the chart still on his fridge.
“Bring the engine down”
The calming tools Tyler still uses, and when to practise them.
A job for the body
The piece of home equipment his mom swears by for loud days.
A quiet reset at school
The small, dark room trick that helped him get back to class.
The starter phrase
The one simple phrase that opened the door to his first words.
…and much more.
When you need a break, you need a break. That’s all there is to it.
Tyler McNamer, on sensory overload
Included
For the fridge door
A printable tip sheet for every talk
Each talk comes with a one-page sheet you can print and keep close: what Tyler explains, plus one small thing to try this week.
- The key ideas in plain words
- A “Try:” step for every idea
- Tyler’s or Jody’s words to keep
- Easy to share with grandparents, teachers and carers
Meet your guide
Tyler lived the silent years
Tyler McNamer is an autistic author and speaker. He could read and write before he could talk. Today he speaks to audiences about autism and wrote Population ONE about his life.
Population ONE: over 190,000 copies sold
Talks with his dad, Jody, and his mom
Honest about what helped him, and what each family has to try for themselves
Start today
Hear the silent years from the inside
Inside the Silent Years: Tyler’s Early-Years Parent Program
$29.95
One payment. Not a subscription.
- Tyler’s talks on thinking, senses, feelings, outbursts, silence and speech
- A printable tip sheet for every talk
- Watch on phone, tablet or computer, as often as you like
Bought on their own, the programs that hold most of these talks cost $456.
What parents ask first
Why is my autistic child not talking?
Every child is different, and only your child’s doctor or speech therapist can tell you why. Tyler shares his own reason: his first words came out as noises or screams, people looked scared, so he chose to stay silent. He could already read and write. The program explains what helped him find his voice.
Who teaches it?
Tyler McNamer, an autistic author and speaker and the author of Population ONE, together with his dad, Jody McNamer, and his mom.
Is this medical advice?
No. Tyler and his family share what they lived and what helped Tyler. Every tip sheet says it too: talk with your child’s care team about what fits your child.
Who is it for?
Parents, grandparents, teachers and carers of a young autistic child, especially a child who does not talk yet, or talks very little.
How do I watch it?
It is an online video program. After you buy, log in to your AutismWorks library and watch at your own pace on a phone, tablet or computer. The tip sheets are PDFs you can print.
How much does it cost?
$29.95, one payment. It is not a subscription.
Can I watch it again?
Yes. The program stays in your AutismWorks library, so you can come back to it any time.
“And I always say every emotion is okay.”
Start the Program — $29.95