Funkonovo/Allison's autism Blog

I've read the plea of an autistic parent many times over- "I would just like to eat dinner with my family out in public." The family cannot do so, because one or more of their children is autistic. The noise of clanking, clattering dishes, crying babies and bright lights incites a very physical and verbal meltdown. The child hits themselves. They scream. The judgemental stares and tongue clucks begin. It is simply safer and less humiliating to eat in. Now imagine the autistic child grown up. Perhaps they have learned to better manage  sensory overload  and get away from a situation before it leads to a meltdown. Maybe they always have a safe person with them (as I do) when they are away from home. Perhaps that person is the parent. They still would like to have a meal out with the entire family, but it won't happen. It's not that the family never tried again. This time, the autistic person wore earplugs and sunglasses. They were older and did their best to ...