Ask an Autistic

What is stimming? Why do Autistic people do it? What are some common stims among the Autistic population? What the heck is "proprioception"?

What is "passing"? Should Autistic children be encouraged to try to pass as neurotypical? Why do Autistic adults choose to pass? What are the consequences of passing? In which situations is passing beneficial? Should I prevent my child from stimming or engaging in stereotypically autistic behaviours?

Is it possible to become "more autistic"? Why is my child suddenly having more meltdowns? What is autistic burnout? What causes it, and what does it look like in Autistic children and adults? What can you do about it?

What is vocal stimming? Why do autistic people do it? Why does my autistic child repeat one word over and over? What is verbal stimming, and should I discourage it? How is echolalia related to verbal stimming?

What is ABA? What is the purpose of ABA therapy? Is ABA good for Autistic children? Is there a link between ABA and PTSD? What's the alternative?

What's wrong with Autism Speaks? Why do so many Autistic people protest against Autism Speaks? How does Autism Speaks' cure rhetoric hurt the Autistic community? What are some good Autism organizations that I can donate to? How can I best support the Autistic community?

What is scripting? What is the difference between echolalial scripting and social scripting? Why do Autistic people engage in echolalial scripting? Should I discourage my child from using memorized social scripts?

What are functioning labels? Are functioning labels helpful to Autistic people? In what ways are functioning labels harmful? In what ways are they inaccurate? What should we use instead of functioning labels?

What is Sensory Processing Disorder? Can a person have SPD but not have Autism? What is it like to have SPD? What kind of accommodation helps people with SPD? Is picky eating a part of SPD?

What does it mean to be an ally? How can I be a good ally to Autistic people? In what ways can an allistic ally support the Autistic community? What does it mean to "presume competence"?

What is AAC? How can AAC benefit Autistic people? What are some common methods of AAC? Does the use of AAC inhibit the development of vocal language in Autistic children? Who should use AAC?

What shouldn't I say to Autistic people? What questions aren't appropriate for me to ask? How can I connect with an autistic person? How should I treat someone with Autism?

What are special interests? What do special interests provide for autistic people? Do special interests ever change? What should I do about my child's special interests?

Which therapies are good for autistic children? What should the goals of therapy be? What is Floortime? How does Floortime compare to ABA? How much therapy should my child be receiving?

What is a meltdown? Why do autistic people have meltdowns? What are the most common causes of meltdowns? How can I help my child have less meltdowns? What is sensory overload?

What is a disability? Are autistic people disabled? What is the social model of disability? Why is cure culture harmful? What is the Neurodiversity movement all about?

What are biomedical interventions? What are some popular autism treatments? What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy? Can the GFCF diet help my child? Is chelation safe?

Why does my child repeat what I just said? What is echolalia? Does my child engage in echolalia? Are there different kinds of echolalia? Why do autistic people engage in echolalia?

What is Neurodiversity? What do the terms "neurotypical" and "neuro-atypical" mean? Who is a part of the Neurodiversity movement? What is the Neurodiversity movement's stance on self-diagnosis, therapies, and autism treatments?

What are autistic shutdowns? How is a shutdown different from a meltdown? What does a shutdown feel like? How can I help someone who is going through an autistic shutdown?

Why do autistic people avoid eye contact? Why is eye contact considered important? Does eye contact hurt autistics? Should I insist that my autistic child make eye contact?

What is Autism Acceptance Month? Why is acceptance important? Should I support Autism Speaks and "light it up blue"? What is the difference between awareness and acceptance? What can I do to celebrate Autism Acceptance Month?

What is autism? What are some common autistic traits? Is autism a disability? How can I help accommodate autistic people? How should I treat autistic people?

What is Prosopagnosia? What is it like to be "faceblind"? How many people have prosopagnosia? Is Prosopagnosia more common in autistic people? How can I accommodate someone who is faceblind?

What is executive functioning? How do people use their executive functions in everyday life? What is it like to have executive dysfunction? How can I support people with executive dysfunction?

What are auditory processing disorders? Is Central Auditory Processing Disorder a cognitive or sensory issue? Do all autistic people have auditory processing issues? What is having CAPD like? What are some ways that I can accommodate people with CAPD at home, in school, or at work?

What is Alexithymia? Is Alexithymia a mental illness? What are people with Alexithymia like? Do only autistic people experience Alexithymia? Does Alexithymia apply to physical sensations as well as emotions?