Autism Health

05/11/2026

New content is up for Chapter 3!
We’re medicating the meltdown… but are we missing the message?
In Behind the Wheel with Autism, Chapter 3, I take on antipsychotics—what they really do, why they’re used, and the question we don’t ask enough: why is this happening?
It’s not just about meds. It’s about medical complexity, unmet needs, real-life pressures, and asking better questions.
Less about silencing behavior. More about understanding it.
Link is in the comments.

When people hear the word antipsychotic, they often picture severe psychiatric illness in adults. But in pediatric care—especially in autism—the story is very different, and honestly, far more complicated. We’re in Chapter 3 of Behind the Wheel with Autism, the chapter where we discuss the eff...

04/30/2026

New blog post up for Chapter 3 of Behind the Wheel with Autism!

We Don’t Start with Medication—We Arrive There

“They’ll grow out of it.”

That’s what we're told—while living through sleepless nights, meltdowns, and the quiet certainty that something isn’t right.

We don’t want to “wait another year.”
We want answers.

But while we wait… things escalate.

Then come the appointments, the school calls, the pieced-together answers. Everyone is trying to help—but no one is seeing the full picture.

And eventually, after enough exhaustion and escalation—

Medication enters the conversation.

Not at the beginning.
But at the end of a long road where the right supports came too late, too little, or missed the mark entirely.

That’s the part I can’t stop thinking about.

In my latest addition to Behind the Wheel with Autism: How to Remove Barriers to Driving for Autistic Teens and Adults, I write about what really happens *before* medication is ever suggested:

The link is in the comments.

04/11/2026

What if the biggest risk to your teen’s driving… isn’t their driving?
It’s what’s in their system.

Multiple medications. Hidden interactions. Subtle side effects of this "medication cocktail" that can impact alertness, coordination, reaction time, and decision-making—everything you need to drive safely.

Most parents aren’t warned about this. Should they be?

We're starting Chapter 3 of Behind the Wheel with Autism: Removing Barriers to Driving for Autistic Teens and Adults

In Chapter 3: Medications: What You Need to Know, I break down:

✅ Why polypharmacy is so common on the autism spectrum
✅ How multiple medications—and even supplements like CBD or h**p extract—can interact
✅ How PDIs (potentially driver-impairing drugs) might affect alertness, decision-making ability, and even our vision

This is the conversation no one’s having—but everyone should.

Read now (link is in comments)

04/08/2026

Just wanted to share this sweet pic of the cover for the Spanish translation. Isn't he adorable???

03/29/2026

Some days, I’m reminded exactly why I do this work.

It was May of 2016 and an ordinary morning at the office… until Angela, my friend and office manager, handed me a letter. She was in tears. A few moments later, I was too.

It was from a grateful reader of my new book, The Un-Prescription for Autism, named “Jason”—an autistic adult who had spent years being told his suffering was “normal.”

He had been on 43 different psychiatric medications, sometimes as many as 10 at once.
He had been hospitalized multiple times for depression.
He had gone to the ER year after year for asthma.
And he had resigned himself to the idea that vomiting 4–5 times a week since childhood was just… part of life.

And then, almost as a last resort, he decided to try something different: the basic support protocol that I shared in my book.
Within just a few weeks, everything began to change.

His chronic vomiting and heartburn stopped.
He no longer needed daily antacids—or even most of his medications.
His asthma improved dramatically.
His meltdowns dropped to just two that year.
He started sleeping through the night.

And something even more surprising—after discovering vision therapy, his lifelong migraines nearly disappeared, his anxiety eased, and he was able to return to things he had been avoiding… like driving at night and spending more time out in the world with his wife.

His words still stay with me:
“Things are night and day from a few months ago… It’s saved my life and given me a better future.”

This isn’t just a story.
It’s a reminder that sometimes what looks like behavior… is actually biology.
That “won’t” might really mean “can’t.”
And that the right support can change everything.

I’m sharing his powerful letter—and the lessons behind it—in my latest blog post on Behind the Wheel with Autism: From 43 Medications to Freedom: A Story of Healing on the Spectrum and a Letter I’ll Never Forget

If you or someone you love is on the autism spectrum and still searching for answers… this one is for you.
(And stay tuned—because I’ll also be sharing a FREE resource in my next post that could be a game-changer.)

The link to the full story is in the comments.

03/23/2026

Ten years ago this month, The Un-Prescription for Autism was released into the world… and I had no idea just how far its message would travel.
What began as a deeply personal mission—to share practical, step-by-step protocols to support vibrant health on the autism spectrum—has grown into something so much bigger than I ever imagined.
Today, this Nautilus Gold Award–winning book is in the hands of families and clinicians around the world. It’s been translated into French, with Spanish, Italian, German, Portuguese, and Hindi on the way—helping its message reach across cultures, languages, and communities.
What moves me most is how this book has been received:
💛 Families tell it gave them a roadmap when they felt lost
💛 Clinicians tell me they value its evidence-based, practical approach
💛 And readers continue to remind me that small, supported steps can lead to meaningful change in their lives
This 10-year anniversary isn’t just about a book—it’s about a community. A global one.
Thank you for reading, sharing, and walking this path with me.

03/18/2026

Would You Give a Horse an Antipsychotic?

I'm still in Chapter 2 of Behind the Wheel with Autism- we're discussing the health and vision challenges of the autism spectrum - and I'm sharing an opinion piece on the state of conventional health care.

We need more than a 15-minute appointment, and we need to do more than just suppress symptoms while ignoring the underlying medical conditions. Pardon my rant, lol. As my boys would have said when they were little: sorry, not sorry! Link is in the comments!

03/11/2026

Happy news! We're starting Chapter 2: Seeing the Road Ahead - Health and Vision First today.

Driving is a full-body activity. You need strength, coordination, flexibility, and stamina to control the pedals, turn the wheel, and respond quickly in unpredictable situations. Simple health considerations—like managing sleep difficulties, brain fog, or constipation and acid reflux—can make a world of difference. Link is in the comments!

03/10/2026

Wrapping up Chapter 1 of Behind the Wheel with Autism. Link is in the comments!

03/02/2026

A new companion article is up on the general blog.

Driving is about more than rules of the road—it’s about reading the road.

When we drive, we’re constantly asking:
What is that pedestrian about to do?
Will that driver change lanes?
Did they see me?

That ability to understand what others might be thinking or planning—often called theory of mind—is a powerful (and often overlooked) driving skill.

For autistic teens and adults, strengthening this skill can make driving feel more predictable, less stressful, and far more empowering. And the best part? It’s something we can actively build with the right strategies and practice.

In my latest blog, I share:
What theory of mind really means in everyday life
Why it’s essential for safe, confident driving
Practical ways to strengthen it step by step

Link is in the comments.

02/28/2026

The latest installment of Behind the Wheel with Autism: Removing Barriers to Driving for Autistic Teens and Adults is live!

This week, we’re looking at driving barriers through the eyes of occupational and physical therapists—and how their expertise can make a huge difference for autistic teens and adults learning to drive. From coordination and motor planning to sensory challenges and working memory, these pros have strategies that can turn frustration into confidence behind the wheel.

As always, I’ve included links to companion articles and actionable steps you can try at home to support your learner (or yourself!) on the road.

If you’ve ever wondered how therapy supports driving readiness—or how to set yourself or your learner up for success—this piece is for you!

👉 Link is in the comments.

Let’s make driving a smoother, safer, and more achievable journey for everyone on the spectrum! 💙