Joyriding In Autismland: Autism Podcast with Kid Gigawatt Kelley Fitch: Kid Gigawatt's Autism Therapy Microfundin' Mama

I listened today for the first time to your podcast w/ jessica Kupferberg.

My son has autism, ADHD and anxiety disorder. His twin has ADHD and an anxiety disorder have ADHD.

Please stop saying normal
Our kids are normal.
They are THEIR normal.
Perhaps her son doesn't like the autism label because she constantly uses the word normal as in normal vs autistic.
Autistic IS his normal. Neurotypical is ours.

She's also REALLY clueless about her son's ADHD ( breaking pencils and not doing homework is a VERY typical ADHD stumbling block for which parents or therapists can set up coping strategies) and his autism.

she would do well to stop saying her son is high functioning. Is he? He's failing school. It sounds like he has a lot of behaviors that my sister no longer had when she was in high school, because she had received services.

I am not a fan of the high functioning/low functioning labels. They really don't tell the story.

My son did sixth grade math in first grade and tested off the charts in reading and language. But he had a lot of behaviors and needed an enormous amount of classroom support. Friends who learn of my son's cognitive gifts and how well he does in school ( he's a grade ahead) they call him high functioning, but on his ADOS he is HIGHLY AUTIsTIC. Aspergers kids can be low functioning. Maybe you and your son don't see everything his classmates are capable of. Unless you spend real, extended time in that classroom I would not judge those kids by their freak outs.

I was really really disappointed to hear how you guys talk and wondered what autistic adults would think listening to this if I was as off put as I was.
And believe me, I'm not precious, but I do try to be respectful. And learn how autistic people prefer we speak so that I can NOT go in the world acting like this is my tragedy - but show people how typical an atypical life really is and can be.

This podcast is really interesting and helps a lot to understand more about autism. I'm glad that Kid is doing this great job.

Love this podcast. A terrific mix and yet balanced with great lessons learned!