These articles explore how caregivers and educators can support an autistic person without taking over their life: communicating clearly, balancing protection with opportunity, and helping them develop judgement and capability. The focus includes supporting adults as well as children.
Support, expectations and autonomy
Fixing Autism may be Unwise
Distinguish making daily care manageable from developing the person’s abilities, opportunities and future.
When Parenting Becomes a Cage
Notice when protection or a prescribed future closes off opportunities to grow and choose.
Parental Judgment & Guidance
Respect adult choices while explaining consequences and setting boundaries on parental funding.
Communication, teaching and judgement
Persuading Autistic People
Make a clear case for a better decision while respecting autonomy and avoiding domination.
Why does my autistic child hate me?
Use the Social Accounting Model to make each person’s efforts, needs and expectations more visible.
Accommodating Disabilities or Bad Attitudes?
Separate genuine support needs from questions about feedback, compromise and personal responsibility.
Recognising Emotions Is Not Enough
Distinguish identifying an emotion from understanding its significance, responding and recognising the longer-term pattern.
Education and developing ability
A Holistic Education
What the school and its adults can organise to make learning and participation workable.
When Mass Produced Education Misses Talent
How an educational system can overlook ability that does not fit its procedures.
Everyday environments and healthcare communication
Sensory Environment Checklist
Review a space with its users and identify sensory barriers to learning, work or participation.
When I Could Not Tell I Was Ill
Support healthcare communication when someone cannot reliably identify or describe symptoms, while preserving their own account.
Childhood and school experiences are collected in Childhood.
For shared spaces, see When Two Genuine Access Needs Collide. Diagnosis questions are collected in Diagnosis & Treatment; local support directories are under Singapore and Malaysia.