Social Anxiety Kept Me From Meeting George Michael
In 1986, twenty-two years before my autism diagnosis, I had a chance to meet one of my musical heroes, George Michael. I hadn’t met George before, and the prospect of spending hours with him in the close confines of a recording studio thrilled and terrified me in equal measures. At around 10 pm that Friday evening, I was told that George was on his way to the studio and that I should make my way over. Immediately, the panic set in. My stomach began to churn with anxiety, and the excuses began as to why I couldn’t attend the session. Read More
TIMOTHY BLOSSOM – OFFICIALLY BRILLIANT!
Timothy Blossom sees the world differently to other people.
Barbara, Timothy’s mother, says this is due to his ‘special wiring’, a concept he struggles to understand – as does Bert Blossom, probably the grumpiest dad in East Winslow.
Timothy is twelve years, three months and five days old. He also happens to be the brainiest kid at Highcrest Manor School, but only when it comes to science. When it comes to tying his shoelaces, well… that’s another matter.
‘Officially Brilliant’ is about the year Timothy finds out he has Autism Spectrum Disorder. Or the ‘A-word’ as he calls it. It’s also about his blossoming friendship with, of all people, Adrian Wilkes; the single most annoying excuse for a human on the entire planet.
How will Timothy cope with the complexities of making friends and becoming a teenager?
Find out in ‘Timothy Blossom – Officially Brilliant.’ Read More
Why I No Longer Tell People I’m Autistic.
I used to hear people on the autistic spectrum say they do not wish to be defined by their autism, and until recently, I never really understood what they meant by this. Read More
Lets Talk About Stereotypes
Lets Talk About Autism Stereotypes CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO Once I overheard a doctor say; ”Oh, so he’s on the autistic spectrum… they are very high achievers, you know.” Now there’s a doctor who needs to check her facts. So lets bust some other myths about autism. STEREOTYPE NUMBER ONE Yes, I have a clinical diagnosis of high-functioning autism. but does this mean I have a passion for Read More
A Cafe where I Can Rest My Autistic Brain
The Challenge of finding an autism-friendly cafe One of my favourite activities, is spending a couple of hours in a café with a regular Americano and my laptop. It’s a great place to work these days, There’s something about the atmosphere of a nice café that allows me to be really creative and productive, as I write articles for this website or my up-coming book on autism. Whilst I enjoy cafe culture, I have Read More
Does everyone with Autism have Audio Processing Disorder?
Does everyone with Autism have Audio Processing Disorder? This article will not be a scientific analysis, or academic view of Audio Processing Disorder, or it’s relationship with autism. What this article will be is a personal account on the effects of this condition. In 2008, I was diagnosed with High Functioning Autism. This diagnosis shed a bright light on a lifetime of challenging traits, and previously unexplained symptoms. Of these Read More
AUTISTIC! is the term offensive?
AUTISTIC! is the term offensive? Should you call someone autistic? When I was diagnosed with High Functioning Autism in 2008, I was told that I was definitely autistic by the psychologist. I don’t know why, but the word autistic sounded like a throw back to the days when the word retarded was acceptable for people with a learning disability. In fact words such as retarded, abnormal and maladjusted were used to describe children like me Read More
Important info for autistic drivers!
Important info for autistic drivers! “You should inform the vehicle licensing authority in your country for advice, if you have any type of disability that might affect your ability to drive a vehicle.” Please note that if you are a car driver who is on the autistic spectrum. You may need to inform the vehicle licensing authority in your country that you have an autism diagnosis. Here in the UK, Read More