Emily Paige Ballou
@epballou.bsky.social
AEA stage manager, Old Millennial, stationery junkie, hiking, X-Files.
Co-editor, "Sincerely, Your Autistic Child" from Beacon Press.
chavisory.wordpress.com
Co-editor, "Sincerely, Your Autistic Child" from Beacon Press.
chavisory.wordpress.com
Pinned
Emily Paige Ballou
@epballou.bsky.social
· Nov 26
Things I'm constantly trying to get people to talk to me about: A thread.
If any of this is up your alley, this is your invitation to completely go off at me about it. 🧵
If any of this is up your alley, this is your invitation to completely go off at me about it. 🧵
For the autistic and phonophobic among us, a reminder that it is Saturday! You will get an answering machine! Please call if you can.
Call your reps + please read the thread. Do it now, please.
Script.
Script.
January 3, 2026 at 5:27 PM
For the autistic and phonophobic among us, a reminder that it is Saturday! You will get an answering machine! Please call if you can.
Reposted by Emily Paige Ballou
Someone talk to me about Djuna Barnes's "Nightwood?"
Did you like it? Hate it? See yourself in it? Why?
Did you like it? Hate it? See yourself in it? Why?
December 27, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Someone talk to me about Djuna Barnes's "Nightwood?"
Did you like it? Hate it? See yourself in it? Why?
Did you like it? Hate it? See yourself in it? Why?
Reposted by Emily Paige Ballou
I've heard some recently suggest that protesting is ineffective and potentially a waste of time/resources/efforts.
I think this is a pretty solid rebuttal to that notion. Worth a read.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
I think this is a pretty solid rebuttal to that notion. Worth a read.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
How effective is protesting? According to historians and political scientists: very
From emancipation to women’s suffrage, civil rights and BLM, mass movement has shaped the arc of US history
www.theguardian.com
December 28, 2025 at 5:13 PM
I've heard some recently suggest that protesting is ineffective and potentially a waste of time/resources/efforts.
I think this is a pretty solid rebuttal to that notion. Worth a read.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
I think this is a pretty solid rebuttal to that notion. Worth a read.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
A4: Breaking bigger things up into discrete steps.
Also, something that helped me with a resolution that was huge and scary was telling myself "At no point does taking one step towards this obligate you to take the next one." #AutChat
Also, something that helped me with a resolution that was huge and scary was telling myself "At no point does taking one step towards this obligate you to take the next one." #AutChat
Q4: What advice would you give to other people about making, evaluating, and/or keeping resolutions/commitments? #AutChat
December 28, 2025 at 9:58 PM
A4: Breaking bigger things up into discrete steps.
Also, something that helped me with a resolution that was huge and scary was telling myself "At no point does taking one step towards this obligate you to take the next one." #AutChat
Also, something that helped me with a resolution that was huge and scary was telling myself "At no point does taking one step towards this obligate you to take the next one." #AutChat
A3: The fact that my work life can change drastically VERY quickly. That I could be working my survival job four days a week, with plenty of time to deal with life maintenance and side projects, and then land a gig that takes me out of state for 2-3 months, just, on a dime. #AutChat
Q3: What makes it harder for you to keep commitments? What makes it easier? #AutChat
December 28, 2025 at 9:38 PM
A3: The fact that my work life can change drastically VERY quickly. That I could be working my survival job four days a week, with plenty of time to deal with life maintenance and side projects, and then land a gig that takes me out of state for 2-3 months, just, on a dime. #AutChat
A1: As much as I say "I'm not gonna make new year's resolutions," I do. Although more often as I get older, my resolutions are less about trying to change ingrained habits cold turkey, but just...things I'd like to get done at some point in the year. #AutChat
Q1: Have you ever made resolutions or commitments for an upcoming year, month, or other timeframe? Was it helpful? Unhelpful? Both?
Feel free to share as much as you’d like about any you’ve made in the past or want to make in the future. #AutChat
Feel free to share as much as you’d like about any you’ve made in the past or want to make in the future. #AutChat
December 28, 2025 at 9:26 PM
A1: As much as I say "I'm not gonna make new year's resolutions," I do. Although more often as I get older, my resolutions are less about trying to change ingrained habits cold turkey, but just...things I'd like to get done at some point in the year. #AutChat
Remember being able to sign into stuff with your password?
December 28, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Remember being able to sign into stuff with your password?
Someone talk to me about Djuna Barnes's "Nightwood?"
Did you like it? Hate it? See yourself in it? Why?
Did you like it? Hate it? See yourself in it? Why?
December 27, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Someone talk to me about Djuna Barnes's "Nightwood?"
Did you like it? Hate it? See yourself in it? Why?
Did you like it? Hate it? See yourself in it? Why?
Reposted by Emily Paige Ballou
chavisory.wordpress.com/2020/12/25/t...
A reminder especially for those of us for whom Christmas Day isn't going to be exactly what we want.
December 25 is the beginning of Christmas, not the end.
A reminder especially for those of us for whom Christmas Day isn't going to be exactly what we want.
December 25 is the beginning of Christmas, not the end.
The beginning, not the end
In some ways I started saying it as an excuse. For why I didn’t want to take my tree down yet, or for cards or presents that were almost certainly not going to arrive in the mail by December …
chavisory.wordpress.com
December 23, 2025 at 10:45 PM
chavisory.wordpress.com/2020/12/25/t...
A reminder especially for those of us for whom Christmas Day isn't going to be exactly what we want.
December 25 is the beginning of Christmas, not the end.
A reminder especially for those of us for whom Christmas Day isn't going to be exactly what we want.
December 25 is the beginning of Christmas, not the end.
chavisory.wordpress.com/2020/12/25/t...
A reminder especially for those of us for whom Christmas Day isn't going to be exactly what we want.
December 25 is the beginning of Christmas, not the end.
A reminder especially for those of us for whom Christmas Day isn't going to be exactly what we want.
December 25 is the beginning of Christmas, not the end.
The beginning, not the end
In some ways I started saying it as an excuse. For why I didn’t want to take my tree down yet, or for cards or presents that were almost certainly not going to arrive in the mail by December …
chavisory.wordpress.com
December 23, 2025 at 10:45 PM
chavisory.wordpress.com/2020/12/25/t...
A reminder especially for those of us for whom Christmas Day isn't going to be exactly what we want.
December 25 is the beginning of Christmas, not the end.
A reminder especially for those of us for whom Christmas Day isn't going to be exactly what we want.
December 25 is the beginning of Christmas, not the end.
Reposted by Emily Paige Ballou
the little "mrrrrph" sound cats make when they jump from a high place reskeet if u agree
December 20, 2025 at 3:23 PM
the little "mrrrrph" sound cats make when they jump from a high place reskeet if u agree
chavisory.wordpress.com/2025/12/17/p...
"Most of the conversation around neurodivergent representation in the show has centered on Dr. Mel King.... But the deeper into this rewatch I get, the more I feel the character actually most important to me is Dr. Samira Mohan."
"Most of the conversation around neurodivergent representation in the show has centered on Dr. Mel King.... But the deeper into this rewatch I get, the more I feel the character actually most important to me is Dr. Samira Mohan."
Paging Dr. Mohan
HBO’s The Pitt is one of those shows that I think both demands and deserves a viewer’s full attention, not put on as background noise for folding laundry. And yet this past week I put it on in the …
chavisory.wordpress.com
December 18, 2025 at 6:40 AM
chavisory.wordpress.com/2025/12/17/p...
"Most of the conversation around neurodivergent representation in the show has centered on Dr. Mel King.... But the deeper into this rewatch I get, the more I feel the character actually most important to me is Dr. Samira Mohan."
"Most of the conversation around neurodivergent representation in the show has centered on Dr. Mel King.... But the deeper into this rewatch I get, the more I feel the character actually most important to me is Dr. Samira Mohan."
December 18, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Reposted by Emily Paige Ballou
There's a lot to be said for figuring out how to honor a holiday in a way that's special and not miserable for *you.*
If a holiday tradition makes your autistic child (or self) miserable or unsettled, try to opt out. Please.
I know change can be hard. And it can be especially difficult to let go of how things "should" be. But if taking a picture with Santa or lighting a menorah isn't realistic, that's OK. #autism
I know change can be hard. And it can be especially difficult to let go of how things "should" be. But if taking a picture with Santa or lighting a menorah isn't realistic, that's OK. #autism
December 14, 2025 at 1:41 AM
There's a lot to be said for figuring out how to honor a holiday in a way that's special and not miserable for *you.*
I have a lot of issues with getting professionals to understand that the *quality* of pain matters, not just the level, and that there even are different qualities of pain.
Also that there are different kinds of discomfort that aren't pain. #AutChat
Also that there are different kinds of discomfort that aren't pain. #AutChat
Q3: What are your experiences communicating with other people around pain? #AutChat
December 13, 2025 at 8:57 PM
I have a lot of issues with getting professionals to understand that the *quality* of pain matters, not just the level, and that there even are different qualities of pain.
Also that there are different kinds of discomfort that aren't pain. #AutChat
Also that there are different kinds of discomfort that aren't pain. #AutChat
Reposted by Emily Paige Ballou
Next Sunday’s #AutChat is on coping in non-autism-friendly employment. December 14, 1pm Pacific / 4pm Eastern / 21:00 UTC / 9pm BST on BlueSky. autchat.com/coping-in-no...
If you know anyone who might be interested and is autistic or similarly neurodivergent, we encourage you to invite them.
If you know anyone who might be interested and is autistic or similarly neurodivergent, we encourage you to invite them.
December 7, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Next Sunday’s #AutChat is on coping in non-autism-friendly employment. December 14, 1pm Pacific / 4pm Eastern / 21:00 UTC / 9pm BST on BlueSky. autchat.com/coping-in-no...
If you know anyone who might be interested and is autistic or similarly neurodivergent, we encourage you to invite them.
If you know anyone who might be interested and is autistic or similarly neurodivergent, we encourage you to invite them.
Reposted by Emily Paige Ballou
Reposted by Emily Paige Ballou
Next Sunday’s #AutChat is on pain. December 7, 1pm Pacific / 4pm Eastern / 21:00 UTC / 9pm BST on BlueSky. autchat.com/pain/
If you know anyone who might be interested and is autistic or similarly neurodivergent, we encourage you to invite them.
If you know anyone who might be interested and is autistic or similarly neurodivergent, we encourage you to invite them.
November 30, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Next Sunday’s #AutChat is on pain. December 7, 1pm Pacific / 4pm Eastern / 21:00 UTC / 9pm BST on BlueSky. autchat.com/pain/
If you know anyone who might be interested and is autistic or similarly neurodivergent, we encourage you to invite them.
If you know anyone who might be interested and is autistic or similarly neurodivergent, we encourage you to invite them.
So I'm starting to get the impression that this isn't something we're finding much of these days...
Friends, where (if anywhere) are we finding the best writing on autism and sexuality these days?
December 6, 2025 at 10:11 PM
So I'm starting to get the impression that this isn't something we're finding much of these days...
Reposted by Emily Paige Ballou
Friends, where (if anywhere) are we finding the best writing on autism and sexuality these days?
December 3, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Friends, where (if anywhere) are we finding the best writing on autism and sexuality these days?