Guiding Exceptional Parents

10/15/2026

"...neurodivergent individuals aren't problems to solve. We're unique, valuable people who deserve to be understood, celebrated, and encouraged to reach our own greatness."

As a dear friend once told me, "I am a complex and unpredictable individual!"

What is "Normal"? Nat challenges us to examine this and uses his ta...

10/09/2026

This is one of the most important things I've ever written.

Psychotherapy Networker has published their September/October 2026 Issue: Inside the ADHD and AuDHD Experience

My piece, co-authored with Donna Henderson, is on helping parents with neurodivergent kids and what well-meaning therapists sometimes get wrong.

Read it here: https://www.psychotherapynetworker.org/article/september-october-2026-digital-issue/

(You do need to provide your email, but can access it immediately afterward in your browser.)

10/05/2026

Interesting finding! I wonder if this is a developmental delay, and (therefore) if they tested autistic adults in their late 20s, whether they'd see patterns similar to what they see in non-autistic adolescents?

Newly published research by a team led by BBRF grantees finds distinct age-related patterns in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that may help explain challenges in social communication that characterize the disorder and how they change over time.

09/25/2026

Really comprehensive guide to preparing for life after high school if you have ADHD.

College admissions process gameplan to help high school students with ADHD prepare for what comes after graduation.

09/17/2026

The Audiobooks.com version of our book, "Is This Autism: A Guide for Clinicians and Everyone Else" narrated by me (Sarah Wayland) is on sale for $8.40 (60% off!) through October 15th. :-)

Though our understanding of autism has greatly expanded, many autistic individuals are still missed or misdiagnosed. This highly accessible book clarifies many ways that autism can present, particularly in people who camouflage to hide their autistic traits. The authors take the listener step by ste...

09/17/2026

This article is AWESOME. I love how she shows how to identify whether the problem is skill, capacity, or readiness, and provides concrete steps for helping.

Autistic adults who can't launch face skills gaps, capacity limits, or readiness issues—not motivation problems. Learn to identify which barrier blocks progress.

09/14/2026

"No matter how much I mask, volunteer, or try to help, I eventually find myself becoming disliked and shunned." - sadly a common experience for autistic people in social groups. I love the last line: "There is extraordinary beauty in human diversity, but that beauty can only flourish when we stop demanding conformity as the price of living in society."

Community organizations shape many parts of modern life, but for some autistic adults, navigating the unwritten social rules can become an invisible barrier to life.

09/10/2026

This whole series is excellent, and I particularly like this final essay. His guidance for teachers and employers, to help their students/employees understand the purpose of learning, to provide autonomy, and to focus on process and dedication rather than outcome is spot on.

Being driven is a powerful strength for people with co-occurring autism and ADHD that brings dedication to what is valued, creating possibilities for growth, contribution, and achievement.

09/09/2026

The idea that some sibling rivalry is due to conflicting sensory profiles is SO TRUE. I see it in so many families! I like her suggestions, and I also appreciate that she acknowledges that parents and their kids can also have conflicting sensory profiles.

Opposite sensory needs can cause conflict between siblings that is more intense than the usual sibling rivalry, but families can take steps to support these conflicting needs.

09/07/2026

This article makes the case for a more nuanced view of the relationship between vaccines and autism. "Vaccination should therefore be considered neither the presumed cause nor an automatically excluded variable. It is one potential input into a much larger biological system."

Read here: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/deconstructing-illness/202608/autism-and-vaccines-questions-science-hasnt-settled

Where are you in the debate over autism and vaccines? Challenge your perspective: It's not about winning the debate; it's about making our children safe.