Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
@thinkingautism.com
The greatest autism info you will ever find, from autistic people, professionals, and parents. www.ThinkingAutism.com & buttondown.com/TPGA. Pro-neurodiversity. Even more TPGA community discussions on IG and FB.
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
The holidays are upon us, and that means hanging with folks who might need a nudge or a gentle reminder about holiday kindness and accommodation for autistic kids and adults, on being nice about understanding autistic behaviors versus assuming naughtiness. #autism #neurodiversity 1/
December 25, 2025 at 3:03 AM
The holidays are upon us, and that means hanging with folks who might need a nudge or a gentle reminder about holiday kindness and accommodation for autistic kids and adults, on being nice about understanding autistic behaviors versus assuming naughtiness. #autism #neurodiversity 1/
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
"In reality, many Autistic people with complex support needs are denied the opportunity to advocate for themselves—because they are never provided access to effective language-based communication and are excluded from participatory or policy spaces."
osf.io/preprints/ps... #neurodiversity 2/2
osf.io/preprints/ps... #neurodiversity 2/2
OSF
osf.io
December 24, 2025 at 6:04 AM
"In reality, many Autistic people with complex support needs are denied the opportunity to advocate for themselves—because they are never provided access to effective language-based communication and are excluded from participatory or policy spaces."
osf.io/preprints/ps... #neurodiversity 2/2
osf.io/preprints/ps... #neurodiversity 2/2
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
"The concept of ' #profoundAutism ' is deeply problematic. It risks reinforcing dehumanizing assumptions—that the absence of speech equates to an absence of thought, agency, or interiority, & that Autistic people with CSN are–as the Lancet Commission claims—'unable to advocate for themselves.'" 1/2
December 24, 2025 at 6:02 AM
"The concept of ' #profoundAutism ' is deeply problematic. It risks reinforcing dehumanizing assumptions—that the absence of speech equates to an absence of thought, agency, or interiority, & that Autistic people with CSN are–as the Lancet Commission claims—'unable to advocate for themselves.'" 1/2
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
Newspapers tend to focus on autistic challenges, not autistic strengths. This kind of reporting—especially in some tabloids and right-leaning newspapers—can reinforce negative stereotypes, making it harder to build a more inclusive society for Autistic people:
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
The relationship between newspaper reading preferences and attitudes towards autism - Marta Dickinson, Themis Karaminis, 2025
Newspapers – particularly certain tabloid and right-leaning publications – often perpetuate negative stereotypes of Autistic people. This study examined how new...
journals.sagepub.com
December 24, 2025 at 5:56 AM
Newspapers tend to focus on autistic challenges, not autistic strengths. This kind of reporting—especially in some tabloids and right-leaning newspapers—can reinforce negative stereotypes, making it harder to build a more inclusive society for Autistic people:
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
Once again, the mainstream media (The WSJ this time) is making lives harder for disabled people, instead of being furious over how disabled people's legitimate every day needs are neglected. Also, ambulatory wheelchair users are very common! TY Rachel T.
www.facebook.com/tikva82/post... #disability
www.facebook.com/tikva82/post... #disability
Rachel Tanenhaus
I have a lot of feelings about the WSJ article ostensibly about people without disabilities asking for wheelchair assistance at the airport so they can jump the line, etc. And then when it takes...
www.facebook.com
December 23, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Once again, the mainstream media (The WSJ this time) is making lives harder for disabled people, instead of being furious over how disabled people's legitimate every day needs are neglected. Also, ambulatory wheelchair users are very common! TY Rachel T.
www.facebook.com/tikva82/post... #disability
www.facebook.com/tikva82/post... #disability
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
"It turns out that banishing the [R-word] slur from public discourse was, in fact, important. Because now it’s back & it turns out that it does matter when subtext becomes actual text, when terrible people enable open hatred & bigotry." @lollardfish.bsky.social:
www.startribune.com/r-word-slur-...
www.startribune.com/r-word-slur-...
Perry: The return of the r-word
"These days, the r-word slur has become a staple of the American right wing, uttered with few professional or social consequences," David M. Perry writes.
www.startribune.com
December 23, 2025 at 5:28 AM
"It turns out that banishing the [R-word] slur from public discourse was, in fact, important. Because now it’s back & it turns out that it does matter when subtext becomes actual text, when terrible people enable open hatred & bigotry." @lollardfish.bsky.social:
www.startribune.com/r-word-slur-...
www.startribune.com/r-word-slur-...
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
"The top whopper on FactCheck. org’s list of 'the most egregious and noteworthy falsehoods and distortions' of 2025 comes to us by way of Robert F Kennedy the Lesser, and yes, it’s the Tylenol-autism claims." @ejwillingham.bsky.social in the newest TPGA newsletter:
buttondown.com/TPGA/archive...
buttondown.com/TPGA/archive...
The Big Santa Lie, Autistic Gift Guide Part II, and Whats In That Pudding??
Timely holiday resources at TPGA and some advice if you’ve lied to your child about Santa
buttondown.com
December 22, 2025 at 9:04 PM
"The top whopper on FactCheck. org’s list of 'the most egregious and noteworthy falsehoods and distortions' of 2025 comes to us by way of Robert F Kennedy the Lesser, and yes, it’s the Tylenol-autism claims." @ejwillingham.bsky.social in the newest TPGA newsletter:
buttondown.com/TPGA/archive...
buttondown.com/TPGA/archive...
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
"One thing non-autistic people are prone to underestimating, in my experience, is the energy cost of just getting places and existing in those places and then getting home again, readjusting to that, and navigating all the transitions in between." At TPGA:
thinkingautismguide.com/2021/05/on-e...
thinkingautismguide.com/2021/05/on-e...
On “Energy Budgeting” and Acknowledging Internal Autistic Realities
All humans deserve to be able to do energy budgeting in ways that make sense for them; for autistic people this should be basic decency.
thinkingautismguide.com
December 22, 2025 at 5:40 PM
"One thing non-autistic people are prone to underestimating, in my experience, is the energy cost of just getting places and existing in those places and then getting home again, readjusting to that, and navigating all the transitions in between." At TPGA:
thinkingautismguide.com/2021/05/on-e...
thinkingautismguide.com/2021/05/on-e...
The holidays are upon us, and that means hanging with folks who might need a nudge or a gentle reminder about holiday kindness and accommodation for autistic kids and adults, on being nice about understanding autistic behaviors versus assuming naughtiness. #autism #neurodiversity 1/
December 25, 2025 at 3:03 AM
The holidays are upon us, and that means hanging with folks who might need a nudge or a gentle reminder about holiday kindness and accommodation for autistic kids and adults, on being nice about understanding autistic behaviors versus assuming naughtiness. #autism #neurodiversity 1/
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
Why does @theatlantic.com's "Accommodation Nation" question the validity of some college students’ accommodations, instead of being outraged that disabled students usually still have to fight for proper accommodations? Oh, right, ableism. TY @discojourno.bsky.social:
discojourno.com/featured-spe...
discojourno.com/featured-spe...
Analysis: The Atlantic's 'Accommodation Nation' is an Ableist Abomination - Disabled Journalists Association
Despite the recent article's thesis, it's possible that higher education is finally correcting for decades of actively ableist approaches to teaching students.
discojourno.com
December 22, 2025 at 4:57 AM
Why does @theatlantic.com's "Accommodation Nation" question the validity of some college students’ accommodations, instead of being outraged that disabled students usually still have to fight for proper accommodations? Oh, right, ableism. TY @discojourno.bsky.social:
discojourno.com/featured-spe...
discojourno.com/featured-spe...
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
Never forget: Andrew Wakefield's incendiary, retracted Lancet study claiming a link between autism and vaccines had NEVER EVER been properly authorized; also, Wakefield had been PAID by a lawyer to find a link between MMR and autism.
It was a HOAX.
www.bmj.com/content/342/... #VaccinesWork #Autism
It was a HOAX.
www.bmj.com/content/342/... #VaccinesWork #Autism
The fraud behind the MMR scare
This week we begin a special series of articles by the journalist Brian Deer. It focuses on what may seem a familiar story—the scare linking the MMR vaccine with autism, launched at a press conference...
www.bmj.com
December 22, 2025 at 4:52 AM
Never forget: Andrew Wakefield's incendiary, retracted Lancet study claiming a link between autism and vaccines had NEVER EVER been properly authorized; also, Wakefield had been PAID by a lawyer to find a link between MMR and autism.
It was a HOAX.
www.bmj.com/content/342/... #VaccinesWork #Autism
It was a HOAX.
www.bmj.com/content/342/... #VaccinesWork #Autism
Bummed to see @npr.org cover ABA therapy uncritically as a "gold standard," without acknowledging autistic pushback against ABA as trauma-wreaking conversion therapy. Please see our info on why non-autistics can be misguided about ABA—plus some alternatives:
thinkingautismguide.com/2025/03/when...
thinkingautismguide.com/2025/03/when...
When You Have No Choice But ABA Therapy — THINKING PERSON'S GUIDE TO AUTISM
You may know that ABA is a questionable therapy. But since not every parent can avoid ABA, what can those parents do to protect their kids?
thinkingautismguide.com
December 25, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Bummed to see @npr.org cover ABA therapy uncritically as a "gold standard," without acknowledging autistic pushback against ABA as trauma-wreaking conversion therapy. Please see our info on why non-autistics can be misguided about ABA—plus some alternatives:
thinkingautismguide.com/2025/03/when...
thinkingautismguide.com/2025/03/when...
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
So much this. Locus of control is how I prioritize: I have a backpack that fits my winter coat – and sweatshirt, if i need. I constantly deal w overheating, so I wear skirts w legwarmers (retractable pants). I know it's a sensory trigger, I'm in control & can prepare. So, I prioritize it.
If there is any way possible to reduce your sensory issues on subways, trains, and buses, do so! I have a hard time when the subways and city buses get crowded. With more tourists exploring my city around the holidays, rush hour becomes a nightmare. 19/
December 24, 2025 at 10:11 PM
So much this. Locus of control is how I prioritize: I have a backpack that fits my winter coat – and sweatshirt, if i need. I constantly deal w overheating, so I wear skirts w legwarmers (retractable pants). I know it's a sensory trigger, I'm in control & can prepare. So, I prioritize it.
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
No matter how hard we autistics try, there will be something that goes wrong during the holidays. No matter how well we plan, there will be something that throws us off. So give yourself permission to have your meltdown, but afterward, go with the flow! We can’t control what happens. 26/26
December 22, 2025 at 2:46 AM
No matter how hard we autistics try, there will be something that goes wrong during the holidays. No matter how well we plan, there will be something that throws us off. So give yourself permission to have your meltdown, but afterward, go with the flow! We can’t control what happens. 26/26
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
Whether it’s seeing your friend, researching your special interest, treating yourself to cocoa, or taking a hot bath, your holiday version of “fun” belongs in your planner surrounded by smiley faces and exclamation points! 25/
December 22, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Whether it’s seeing your friend, researching your special interest, treating yourself to cocoa, or taking a hot bath, your holiday version of “fun” belongs in your planner surrounded by smiley faces and exclamation points! 25/
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
Managing anxiety is easier when I have more control. Because I get nervous when I don’t know what I’m doing, I use my schedule to plan out my holiday season. In your schedule, don’t just pencil in tough stuff like work or travel. Plan in fun, too! 24/
December 22, 2025 at 2:41 AM
Managing anxiety is easier when I have more control. Because I get nervous when I don’t know what I’m doing, I use my schedule to plan out my holiday season. In your schedule, don’t just pencil in tough stuff like work or travel. Plan in fun, too! 24/
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
In general, I like to eat food and drink water before and during travel, work, and holiday events. Otherwise, a forgotten stomach can add to my anxiety. Bringing copious amounts of your favorite food to share makes you look like a generous guest while caring for your own needs. 23/
December 22, 2025 at 2:40 AM
In general, I like to eat food and drink water before and during travel, work, and holiday events. Otherwise, a forgotten stomach can add to my anxiety. Bringing copious amounts of your favorite food to share makes you look like a generous guest while caring for your own needs. 23/
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
I bring a bag of things to do—a book, a journal and pen, a music player and headphones—for when I need to chill out. If I get too overwhelmed, I take a walk in the cold air. When I take enough breaks to disengage, I can enjoy spending time together with large groups of relatives! 22/
December 22, 2025 at 2:38 AM
I bring a bag of things to do—a book, a journal and pen, a music player and headphones—for when I need to chill out. If I get too overwhelmed, I take a walk in the cold air. When I take enough breaks to disengage, I can enjoy spending time together with large groups of relatives! 22/
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
Family gatherings can provoke anxiety. How do I start a conversation with my cousins or end one with someone’s neighbor? What’s in that pudding and do I really want to eat it? And how can I have fun when I feel like hiding in the attic? 21/
December 22, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Family gatherings can provoke anxiety. How do I start a conversation with my cousins or end one with someone’s neighbor? What’s in that pudding and do I really want to eat it? And how can I have fun when I feel like hiding in the attic? 21/
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
Because there is too much stimulation, I sometimes panic & get off the subway or bus before my stop. During travel, I’m more comfortable when I wear noise-cancellation headphones, bring a fidget in my pocket or a logic puzzle or word game, and remove my jacket before boarding a heated train car. 20/
December 22, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Because there is too much stimulation, I sometimes panic & get off the subway or bus before my stop. During travel, I’m more comfortable when I wear noise-cancellation headphones, bring a fidget in my pocket or a logic puzzle or word game, and remove my jacket before boarding a heated train car. 20/
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
If there is any way possible to reduce your sensory issues on subways, trains, and buses, do so! I have a hard time when the subways and city buses get crowded. With more tourists exploring my city around the holidays, rush hour becomes a nightmare. 19/
December 22, 2025 at 2:33 AM
If there is any way possible to reduce your sensory issues on subways, trains, and buses, do so! I have a hard time when the subways and city buses get crowded. With more tourists exploring my city around the holidays, rush hour becomes a nightmare. 19/
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
Making alternate holiday travel plans is important. I learned the hard way that taxi cabs won’t save me from my executive dysfunctions if I am on time but forget to bring a way to pay the driver! 18/
December 22, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Making alternate holiday travel plans is important. I learned the hard way that taxi cabs won’t save me from my executive dysfunctions if I am on time but forget to bring a way to pay the driver! 18/
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
Transportation gets hellish around the holidays. Plan ahead, leave extra time, and don’t take the last possible train home, because if something doesn’t go right, you’ll be stuck. 17/
December 22, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Transportation gets hellish around the holidays. Plan ahead, leave extra time, and don’t take the last possible train home, because if something doesn’t go right, you’ll be stuck. 17/
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
Also realize that you have to request days off in advance. That said, stand up for your rights—calmly and respectfully — if you feel your employer is breaking your contract or overscheduling you. 16/
December 22, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Also realize that you have to request days off in advance. That said, stand up for your rights—calmly and respectfully — if you feel your employer is breaking your contract or overscheduling you. 16/
Reposted by Thinking Person's Guide to Autism
Realize you may be required to work holiday parties or events. As a representative of your company, you may need to talk to customers. I think out what to say and practice in advance. A script can help me to get through the initial fear of approaching customers. 15/
December 22, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Realize you may be required to work holiday parties or events. As a representative of your company, you may need to talk to customers. I think out what to say and practice in advance. A script can help me to get through the initial fear of approaching customers. 15/