Hyper-Focus
One of the most prominent characteristics of my Asperger’s has been the “hyper-focus” that occurs in many people on the spectrum. The best description that I have for hyper-focus is an almost obsessive/compulsive desire to do an activity. My hyper-focus has been both a boon and a curse when considering the various things that I’ve […]
Read moreTo Drink, or Not to Drink
As you know, it’s March and St. Patrick’s Day is coming up. This is well known as a big “drinking holiday.” I thought that it would make sense to talk about drinking alcohol. It seems to me that a lot of people treat alcohol very casually like it’s no big deal. For me, using alcohol […]
Read moreStepping Outside My Box
In the past few weeks, I’ve noticed that I have gotten better with being a team player and a team leader. Sometimes I don’t think I do well as a team player or team leader because I don’t really talk that much, nor do I like to share my thoughts in a verbally communicative session. […]
Read moreBlack History and Disability – Roland Johnson
February is Black History Month. It’s the time of year when the United States of America remembers the plight of enslaved Africans and their African American descendants. Historical figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Rosetta Tharpe, George Washington Carver, Madam C. J. Walker and Harriet Tubman are all notable for their robust accomplishments […]
Read moreLove is in the Air
I have experienced Valentine’s Day in February from the perspective of being single and also being in a romantic relationship. When I was single, I thought it would be amazing to have a date on Valentine’s Day and to be in a relationship. Boy, I was partly correct, but also way off. While it was […]
Read moreTop Typist
Being aware that this month is the start of a new year, I never really knew what to improve for myself as the monthly norm. Then it suddenly hit me: I’ve always wanted to become a better speed typist. To do this, I pretty much have to spend a good 1-2 hours daily working on […]
Read moreCommunications
When it comes to understanding means of communication, I think autistics like myself are more likely to be empathic towards others. We are more likely to be empathetic because our means of communicating are not always respected. So we put forth an effort to understand others who have similar or different communication difficulties and needs. […]
Read moreIs Traditional College for Me?
Over the summer my parents and I decided that I would take a gap year, but during that time I would enroll in my local community college for a class or two. I enrolled in English Composition 101 for the fall semester. I met with Disability Services so that I could utilize their support system. […]
Read moreResolving Resolutions
It’s January again and everyone I know is talking about resolutions and wanting to make changes. This can be incredibly helpful for me, however I need to be really careful to focus on positive goals and things that I want to change. Why do I need to be careful? Because there is a little voice […]
Read moreFinding the Right Air Purifier & How I Benefited From Using One
When I first started browsing air purifiers, one thing that I noticed right away were companies advertising their certifications for their product. While reading through a few of those, nothing stuck out and made sense to me because I’ve never heard of the certificates. I wondered if there was a single regulatory body that checks […]
Read moreBlack and White Thinking
Coloring books are funny things for me. Even as a kid they were hard because I believed that there must be a right way to color the page and ultimately the entire coloring book too. I believed there was a right way and a wrong way to color a coloring book. I was constantly frustrated […]
Read moreIssues with Social Cues
Every now and then, I get distracted on small things in conversations, not saying that’s out of my control but sometimes I can’t really go through a whole conversation. Sometimes I am not aware of the topic of the conversation and may wind up spaced out…, but does that truly mean that I do not […]
Read moreAddressing Social Stereotypes of Aspies
This month I had the opportunity and privilege to be featured in ASERT’s June Newsletter. In that article, I highlight some of the processes to become a Certifed Peer Specialist (CPS). I’ve also written about becoming a CPS in a previous blog post for ASDNext. With all that said, I want to discuss social stereotypes […]
Read morePreplanning my Beach Vacation
I’m really excited about my upcoming vacation to the beach with friends. What I’m nervous about is making sure I have everything ready when it’s time to go. Do I need to replace or get new clothes for the anticipated temperatures/weather conditions for the trip? Do I need to get any supplies, such as paper […]
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