Tyler Talks
In this free weekly newsletter, international best selling author and speaker on the topic of Autism, Tyler McNamer, shares many personal and effective strategies to make autism more workable.
Making Fear Your Friend
Greetings to our AutismWorks Family,
Fear can help us stop before we step into traffic, move away from a threat, or question a request that does not feel right. In those moments, fear has a useful job: getting our attention so we can protect ourselves.
That is what I mean by making fear your frie...
Oct 13, 2026
Leaving a School That Felt Like Home
Greetings to our AutismWorks Family,
This year marks thirteen years of AutismWorks—and thirteen years since I graduated from high school. As we recognize this anniversary, I want to share what that graduation meant to me and what my experience can teach us about supporting students as they move i...
Oct 07, 2026
The Person Is Bigger Than the Diagnosis
Hello AutismWorks Community,
A diagnosis can explain a lot.
It can help a family understand why certain things are difficult.
It can help a student receive support.
It can help a teacher understand how someone learns.
It can help an adult make sense of experiences that may have felt confusing for...
Sep 29, 2026
Fixations: Turning Passion Into Possibility
Hello AutismWorks Community,
People with autism are often known for having strong interests.
Sometimes those interests are called fixations.
A person may want to talk about the same subject for a long time.
They may know a surprising amount about it.
They may notice details other people miss.
The...
Sep 22, 2026
AI Can Also Mean “Appreciate Individuality”
Hello AutismWorks Community,
Artificial intelligence is everywhere right now.
People use it for work, school, writing, pictures, research, entertainment, and all kinds of everyday tasks.
I use AI too.
Sometimes I think the best way to think about it is simply as a toy.
Something to experiment wit...
Sep 15, 2026
IEP Success: Building a Plan That Grows With Your Child
Hello AutismWorks Community,
When I look back at my years in school, my Individualized Education Program—my IEP—was much more than paperwork.
It became one of the most important tools supporting my education and development.
But my family did not understand that immediately.
Like many parents, my...
Sep 08, 2026
Teachers & Students: Helping Kids With Autism Thrive All Year
Hello AutismWorks Community,
A successful school year is rarely built by one person.
For a student with autism, teachers matter.
Classmates matter too.
From preschool through twelfth grade, the people surrounding a student can make school feel either confusing and exhausting—or safer, more unders...
Sep 01, 2026
Back to School: A Fresh Start Without Starting Over
Hello AutismWorks Community,
Back-to-school season comes with a lot of expectations.
New classes.New teachers.New schedules.New classmates.New routines.
There can be excitement in that.
But for students with autism, there can also be a lot of uncertainty.
Even returning to the same school can fee...
Aug 26, 2026
The Right to Be a Beginner
Hello AutismWorks Community,
Trying something new can be exciting.
It can also be uncomfortable.
Especially as an adult.
There is often an unspoken pressure to already know what you are doing. To be competent. To understand the rules. To avoid looking awkward. To somehow skip the messy beginning ...
Aug 11, 2026
Recovery Is Part of the Journey
Hello AutismWorks Community,
When people talk about travel, they usually focus on the exciting parts.
Where you went.What you saw.What you did.What pictures were taken.What stories came home with you.
Those things matter.
But there is another part of travel that deserves attention too.
Recovery.
...
Jul 28, 2026
The Gift of Stillness After Adventure
Hello AutismWorks Community,
Adventure can be powerful.
Going somewhere new.Seeing something different.Trying something unfamiliar.Navigating a place outside the usual routine.
For adults with autism, travel can be exciting, meaningful, and confidence-building. It can also take a lot of energy.
E...
Jul 21, 2026
Bringing the Adventure Home
Hello AutismWorks Community,
Every adventure eventually comes to an end.
The bags get unpacked.The schedule returns.The familiar room is there again.The trip becomes a memory.
But a good adventure does not really end when you get home.
Something comes back with you.
Maybe it is confidence.Maybe i...
Jul 14, 2026
Tyler Talks
