• Black and white Photograph of bridge. Text reads "Whenever fear of an already marginalized group occurs history has shown that the results are horrific. Please do not be part of society going there. You can inform yourself. JUDY ENDOW ,Ollibean Logo Ollibean and outline of a circle made up of equal signs of various shapes and sizes

Autism and Public Perception

Autism and Public Perception by Judy Endow Today we have added something to our public perception of autism. Historically that perception has been one of an isolated small child rocking or head banging, oblivious to the rest of the world. Even though that perception is wrong, it is the public perception. There is an addition to that perception in the past few years. It seems society has added an adult image of autism. It is another false image, but never-the-less, quickly becoming an accepted public image of what it means to be an adult autistic. Unfortunately for

  • "finding some other movement to hook into that will serve to interrupt and change the pattern to match my newer cognitive understanding" Judy Endow. Ollibean logo

Autistic Patterns of Thoughts and Emotions

I use the movement of things outside of me for purposes of thinking and of processing feelings. Recently, autistic friends have let me know that most people in the world do not do this and that it is a rather common autistic experience. I have no idea how common so would very much appreciate autistic weigh in here.   Thinking   My thoughts are all in colors and pictures. Usually there are sounds attached, but not always. To think I need a way for the colors and pictures to move. When my sensory system is calm and integrated the thoughts

  • Faded Image of ocean and waves and rocks. Text reads WILL THE SELF-ADVOCACY SKILLS WE TEACH OUR YOUTH TODAY SERVE THEM WELL IN THEIR ADULTHOOD? Judy Endow ,MSW, Ollibean logo

Autism, Transition Programs and the Impact of Poverty on Self-Advocacy

I am an autistic woman who has lived both in poverty and as a middle-income person during my adult life. I am noticing how self-advocacy is typically geared toward middle-income status. This could be problematic since many autistic adults live in poverty. Based upon my experience I have come to realize that middle class self-advocacy works fine if in fact you are a middle-income person, but doesn’t work well if you are a poor person.   I will explain this more using an example from my life as a poor person versus a middle class person.   Dental Experience as

  • Photograph of sky and lake at sunset.

Visual Accommodations and Blessings of My Autism

The visual sensory aspects of the way autism plays out for me most of the time means that I get too much information delivered – things are too big, too bright, too bold – typically too much to endure all day. Practically, this means I need to accommodate my sensory system in a variety of ways.   Let’s take but one example from my life where visual overload is a pretty constant problem. Here are some things I have found helpful:   Environmental Accommodations for Overhead Lights   Most of the time I simply do what I need unless it

  • Photograph of aqua and blue ocean. Text reads "Sensory system needs change over time, JUDY ENDOW,MSW on Ollibean"

Autism and A Changing Sensory System

Something about autistic sensory difference that I do not see addressed in the literature is the fact that sensory system needs change over time.

Outsmarting the Hard of Autism to Attend Live Theater

I love musicals and other live theater performances. About five years ago I googled the name of the performing arts theater in my town along with “season tickets” and was delighted to discover the possibility for a whole new adventure! My friend Marilyn and her adult son Jimmy (who also likes musicals and has autism) decided they would like to do this too. Each year I am the person who sends out the information on shows and orders the tickets for all three of us. Along the way we had to outsmart the hard of our autism and figure out

Autism and the Importance of Stabilization

  As an autism consultant I am often asked how I sort out what to do when I see an autistic client who is struggling in school or in life. As an autistic person I know first hand if stabilization needs are not met, regardless of the supports in place an autistic person will struggle. Stabilization consists of three areas that interplay – internal and external regulation in the context of a positive relationship. Internal Regulation ~ Sensory Diet Internal regulation has many components, but for stabilization I look at the sensory system. When a person has an autism neurology

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