Autism Health

10/23/2026

NEW IN CHAPTER 4: Tuning In to Your Inner Dashboard!

I’ve already covered some big sensory barriers like vision and hearing, but before I go any further in the sensory chapter, I want to highlight something important: sometimes, the little things aren’t so little when they start to add up.

A bit of road noise, sunlight on your arm, or a seatbelt rubbing your neck might not seem like a big deal on its own — but together, these small sensory demands can contribute to an overall feeling of stress or fatigue, even when you don’t immediately realize what’s happening.

That’s where interoception comes in: your body’s internal dashboard, helping you recognize signals like tension, fatigue, a racing heart, or the need for a break.

For autistic teens and adults, recognizing and interpreting those signals can look different from person to person. Sometimes, the body’s warning lights don’t come on until you’re already running on empty.

The good news? Understanding your own signals can help you build strategies that work for YOU.

In the newest section of Behind the Wheel with Autism: Removing Barriers to Driving for Autistic Teens and Adults, we explore:

✅ How to recognize your body’s early warning signs
✅ Simple check-ins to help you stay regulated behind the wheel
✅ When to pause, recharge, and give yourself permission to take a break
✅ Practical resources & research to help you learn more

And remember: it’s about building self-understanding, finding what works for you, and making driving more manageable — one step at a time.

Because successful driving isn’t just about watching the road. It’s also about learning to listen to yourself.

Read the newest section of Chapter 4 now! Link is in the comments

Know an autistic teen, adult, parent, or driving instructor who might find this helpful? Please share!

10/18/2026

Some of the biggest breakthroughs come from places no one tells you to look. For me, one of those places was the vision differences in autism.

That experience led me to write a free 85-page booklet:
Developmental Optometry and the Autism Spectrum: My Miracle Referral for Autistic Children, Teens, and Adults

It’s filled with what I wish I had known earlier—both professionally and personally.

You can get it free when you sign up for my newsletter, Stories from the Margins (and the Mountains). And there are no strings attached, if you just want the booklet, feel free to unsubscribe – no hard feelings!

My newsletter is where I share:
~The overlooked medical pieces of autism
~What I’m learning and working on as an author
~And stories from raising a family and living in Appalachia (some heartfelt, some just plain funny)

If you’re walking this road too—or supporting someone who is—it’s like getting a smile and a hug in your inbox.

Get your free booklet here,
and feel free to share this link!

https://dl.bookfunnel.com/wcim7hdtu8

Get this invaluable guide for free when you sign up for my newsletter, Stories from the Margins (and the Mountains). From school to driving to daily life—when vision improves, everything can change. Struggling with reading, coordination, headaches, or daily overwhelm? For many autistic children, t...

09/24/2026

My book trailer! I still chat with readers all over the world and love knowing the support protocols are helping children and adults everywhere enjoy a vibrant life on the autism spectrum.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

08/06/2026

Good news to share — I just posted a new chunk of Chapter 4: The Sensory Driver — Understanding How Autism Shapes the Experience of Being Behind the Wheel, and this one gets into something I think a lot of families haven't heard talked about before: what's actually happening inside your brain and body every single second you're behind the wheel.

Vision, balance, body awareness, all of it working together in ways most drivers never have to think about. And for autistic drivers, that system can work a little differently, which explains so much about why certain driving situations ask more of your brain than others.

If you've got an autistic driver in your life, or you are one yourself, I think you'll find this one reassuring. Understanding why something takes more effort is the first step toward making it feel easier.

Link is in the comments, and Part 2 is coming soon where we'll get into touch, sound, and smell, plus an action plan you can start using right away!

07/16/2026

Chapter 3 of Behind the Wheel with Autism is finished! 🎉

And whew... I left myself the hardest conversation for last.

Cannabis is one of those subjects that tends to split people into camps. Some swear by it. Others won't touch it. Most people just have a lot of questions.

I've heard from so many autistic teens, adults, and parents who say cannabis—or C*D—has been life-changing for anxiety, sleep, sensory overload, or chronic stress.

At the same time, driving safely means having the facts
about what THC can do to reaction time, attention, and judgment, even when someone feels perfectly fine.

I wasn't trying to tell anyone what they should or shouldn't do. It was to give people the information they need to make smart decisions without fear, shame, or scare tactics.

(Also...I finally made peace with the fact that I needed a table explaining the difference between cannabis, ma*****na, h**p, THC, and C*D. 😂 Thanks, Claude.)

Every chapter makes this book feel a little more real. I'm excited...and maybe just a little relieved.

Onward to Chapter 4, The World Is Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Much — Sensory Processing as a Barrier to Driving

06/17/2026

Here's something you probably didn't expect to read about on a driving blog: acid reflux.

But hear me out.

The latest addition to Chapter 3 of Behind the Wheel with Autism is live, and we're talking gastrointestinal medications — the PPIs, laxatives, and anti-diarrheal meds that so many autistic teens and adults take every day.

Here's the good news: this is one of the easier categories. Most of these medications are working in your gut, not your nervous system.

We also get into something that doesn't get talked about enough: PPIs can quietly raise the blood levels of certain psychiatric medications. If you're on something for anxiety, depression, or seizures alongside your omeprazole, there's a short but important list you need to know about.

This one is manageable. Knowing what to watch for makes all the difference.

Link is in comments.

06/09/2026

Get this free 85-page booklet when you sign up for my newsletter, Stories from the Margins (and the Mountains)

https://dl.bookfunnel.com/wcim7hdtu8

Get this invaluable guide for free when you sign up for my newsletter, Stories from the Margins (and the Mountains). From school to driving to daily life—when vision improves, everything can change. Struggling with reading, coordination, headaches, or daily overwhelm? For many autistic children, t...

06/05/2026

We're diving into a question that doesn't get talked about nearly enough in the latest chapter of Behind the Wheel with Autism.

For some autistic people, medications like Adderall or Ritalin can improve focus, reduce impulsivity, and make it easier to manage the endless stream of information that comes with driving.

For others, timing, the jitters, sensory sensitivities, rebound effects, or even overconfidence and your gender can create challenges that aren't always obvious.

In this week's post, we're unpacking:
✔️ How stimulant medications can affect driving performance
✔️ Why medication timing matters more than many people realize
✔️ The role of sensory overload, anxiety, and emotional regulation
✔️ Do they affect women more than men?
✔️ What the research actually says about driving risks and benefits
✔️ Questions to ask your doctor and pharmacist

Nobody hands autistic drivers a guidebook for navigating medication and driving. That's exactly why we're talking about it.

Link is in the comments.

06/02/2026

05/28/2026

In Chapter 3 of Behind the Wheel with Autism, I explore how medications like Prozac, Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Remeron, Trazodone, and others can affect driving readiness in very different ways.
Because treating anxiety, depression, and sleep problems can absolutely help driving — while also sometimes affecting alertness, timing, and reaction speed at the same time.

Link is in the comments.