Social Transgressions

Don't have the energy to disclose your autism? Need a quick excuse for why something came across poorly to an acquaintance? Blame it on your zodiac sign! In this witty episode, I share traits that are common to autism and align with different elements of each sign, from Aries to Pisces.

While I do encourage honesty, nobody is entitled to your diagnostic history or personal health information. It can be daunting to disclose your autism to every person you meet. It may technically be lying to blame it on your zodiac sign, but I think it's justified when the alternative is disclosing to people who don't need to know. You are prioritizing your own boundaries.

**This episode discusses abusive relationships.

People with disabilities are at higher risk for abuse. How does it show up in autism? I talk about how a culture of forced compliance and lack of respect for boundaries serve as a pipeline to abusive relationships. 

In this episode, I take the autism quotient self-assessment test for the first time. Skip to 21:32 for results.

Take the Autism Quotient test here: https://www.aspietests.org/userdetails.php?target=aq/index.php

SEASON 2 IS HERE! To celebrate my birthday, I talk about a defining moment from each age of my autistic life.

I have noticed that in conversations between autistic and non-autistic people, the non-autistic person will laugh frequently. It's not meant to be malicious, but it can make us feel dejected and like we're not being taken seriously. In this episode, I suggest three reasons why non-autistic people might laugh while speaking to us. 

I talk about my first job working in the tech industry and how being autistic, having little work experience, and the corporate management style led to my termination after 3 months.

This episode is all about my role as an intern at the PSU Disability Resource Center. I talk about how eligibility for accommodations is determined, documentation policies, and my own personal history of using accommodations from disability resource centers. 

Everything you need to know about the barriers autistic applicants face while navigating the traditional employment process. This episode is jam-packed with information and advice for both employers AND autistic applicants. 

Temple Grandin is a writer, speaker, scientist, and arguably the world's most famous autistic person. Join me in analyzing her work for the autism community piece-by-piece.

Can you be autistic AND a social worker? I talk with autistic social worker Zack Sideek to delve into this question and more. We discuss autistic strengths, building empathy and rapport with clients, and the dreaded NASW competency 6b.