Why “High-Functioning” and “Low-Functioning” Labels Don’t Work

by admin | May 15, 2026 | What We Are Learning

If you spend any time in the autism world, you will hear these terms constantly. “Oh, he is high-functioning.” “She is quite low-functioning.” They are used by doctors, teachers, family members, and well-meaning strangers. They sound like they...

The 8 Senses: Understanding Your Autistic Child’s Sensory World

by admin | May 15, 2026 | What We Are Learning

Ask most people how many senses humans have and they will say five. Sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell. It is one of the first things we learn at school, and most of us never question it again. But there are actually eight. And understanding all eight is one of the...

Autopia: What Would the World Look Like If It Were Designed for Autistic People?

by admin | May 15, 2026 | What We Are Learning

Imagine a world where the lighting never flickered. Where social rules were explicit, logical, and never changed without warning. Where nobody expected you to make eye contact to prove you were paying attention. Where moving your body to help you think was not just...

Can’t vs Won’t: The Shift That Changes Everything

by admin | Apr 18, 2026 | What We Are Learning

Inspired by The Science of ADHD by Chris Chandler A child who won’t start their homework. A student who won’t stop talking in class. A teenager who won’t remember their PE kit. From the outside, it looks like a choice. And so we respond accordingly: “They just don’t...

What is AAC?

by admin | Apr 18, 2026 | What We Are Learning

AAC stands for Augmentative and Alternative Communication. It’s a way of communicating that doesn’t rely on speech alone. AAC can support speech (augmentative) or provide another way to communicate (alternative). It gives people access to communication in the way that...

What is Auslan and What is Key Word Sign?

by admin | Apr 18, 2026 | What We Are Learning

Auslan is a complete language used by the Deaf community. It has its own grammar, sentence structure, and rules — different from spoken English. Key Word Sign is a communication approach. It uses signs (often from Auslan), alongside speech, to support understanding...