#TravelsWithAutism
Before you fly, be sure to check out your departure airport's website for help with travelling with Autism.
Posts
Autism and Tech: Here's what you can do with your old iPhone
A couple of weeks ago, my daughter Grace lost her iPhone. Grace
is a 15-year-old with a diagnosis of autism and a severe speech delay.
Some people would call her "non-verbal" but she can say a few words and
if people don't understand she shows them a picture.
When Gracie was small, she used to have to carry a big book around to hold these pictures, but then the iPhone was invented and a very kind person gave us one to try. I was able to transfer all her pictures onto a folder on that phone and whenever we didn't have a picture, we could take a photograph and add that to her collection. Grace is considered to have an intellectual disability but she had no trouble navigating that iPhone, and she carried it around with her everywhere in an especially strong cover to protect against accidents.
With the help of a young Irish gaming developer called Steve Troughton-Smith, I was able to create an App to store and sort those pictures and in honour of my daughter…
When Gracie was small, she used to have to carry a big book around to hold these pictures, but then the iPhone was invented and a very kind person gave us one to try. I was able to transfer all her pictures onto a folder on that phone and whenever we didn't have a picture, we could take a photograph and add that to her collection. Grace is considered to have an intellectual disability but she had no trouble navigating that iPhone, and she carried it around with her everywhere in an especially strong cover to protect against accidents.
With the help of a young Irish gaming developer called Steve Troughton-Smith, I was able to create an App to store and sort those pictures and in honour of my daughter…
Keeping on top of Laundry- how I do it
Some of you may be wondering whats "Laundry" or doing the washing has got to do with Autism?
Well, quite a lot actually. We would be amongst the busiest parents around so efficiency is super important if you want to have time for all your kid activities.
Those of us in the spectrum ourselves recognise a need for order and control. Personally I feel very anxious when the washing pile gets too big.
And, as a proud Mammy, I want my family to have clean and nice smelling clothes.
Well, I was on Twitter today when a media friend who works from home while raising her very small children tweeted a picture of her clean washing pile with the caption "Thinking of joining a nudist colony" -:
I was at home with Liam and looking for a diversion so I offered to tweet her my system of staying organised and she replied "YES PLEASE!"
So for working Mums, new Mums and anyone who has to manage a home and family while still trying to have a life, here is my system for s…
Well, quite a lot actually. We would be amongst the busiest parents around so efficiency is super important if you want to have time for all your kid activities.
Those of us in the spectrum ourselves recognise a need for order and control. Personally I feel very anxious when the washing pile gets too big.
And, as a proud Mammy, I want my family to have clean and nice smelling clothes.
Well, I was on Twitter today when a media friend who works from home while raising her very small children tweeted a picture of her clean washing pile with the caption "Thinking of joining a nudist colony" -:
I was at home with Liam and looking for a diversion so I offered to tweet her my system of staying organised and she replied "YES PLEASE!"
So for working Mums, new Mums and anyone who has to manage a home and family while still trying to have a life, here is my system for s…
Holidays in Autism Land
At this time of year you might be lucky enough to be planning a holiday. And some of you, thanks to a negative experience in the past might be having trepidations - I have some advice that might make it easier and more enjoyable for everyone.
Where I live on the island of Ireland, it can rain for 10 of the 14 days you have set aside for your break. No matter how scenic the location, you do not want to find yourself cooped up in a holiday house with no broadband, no cable tv and the prospect of hanging around the local Supermarket for entertainment.
The usual indoor amusement centres do not work for people with high sensory needs, and they are expensive anyway.
And 'Long walks in the Rain followed by an Irish Coffee in a local pub' are for romantic weekends as a COUPLE. Not a family of 4 with no clothes dryer.
So take my advice and go somewhere sunny for your holidays. And fly!
The other good reason to go somewhere "foreign" is the fact that it will take you away fro…
Where I live on the island of Ireland, it can rain for 10 of the 14 days you have set aside for your break. No matter how scenic the location, you do not want to find yourself cooped up in a holiday house with no broadband, no cable tv and the prospect of hanging around the local Supermarket for entertainment.
The usual indoor amusement centres do not work for people with high sensory needs, and they are expensive anyway.
And 'Long walks in the Rain followed by an Irish Coffee in a local pub' are for romantic weekends as a COUPLE. Not a family of 4 with no clothes dryer.
So take my advice and go somewhere sunny for your holidays. And fly!
The other good reason to go somewhere "foreign" is the fact that it will take you away fro…