Grown Up Autism

04/02/2026

Today we spent the day at the Art & History Museums of Maitland, and it ended up being one of those days that just worked.
Not because everything was perfect, but because the environment gave us room to make it perfect for us.

We also had a special guest today, the boy’s nephew, and watching them plus him experience everything in their own ways was honestly the best part.

This isn’t a loud, overwhelming museum. It’s quiet, detailed, and full of spaces that let you slow down, and when you slow down… you start to notice things.

Outside, there were carved stone walls with messages about stepping into the unknown, and honestly, that one hit a little deeper than expected.
Some days with the boys feel exactly like that… walking forward without a clear map and just trusting you’re doing it right.
There were patterns everywhere, tiles, carvings, textures, and those details became the focus for some of us.

Not rushing from thing to thing, but really engaging with what was right in front of us.

In the art gallery, there was the art by Jacobo Alonso.
His pieces stopped us in our tracks. Bright, layered, and textured. Some felt playful, others a little strange, and a few made you pause and figure out what you were even looking at.
But that’s what made them so powerful.
They weren’t just something to glance at, they were something to study. To trace with your eyes. To sit with.

For minds that love patterns, repetition, and detail, it was the kind of art that pulls you in and holds your attention without saying a word.

Inside the history museum, we found rooms set up like a different time, bright orange walls, floral curtains, old books on the table. It felt like stepping into someone else’s life for a minute. Familiar but different, moments that just make you smile, like using the old viewer to “look closer” at a story, or standing in front of a giant sculpture that just felt fun.
Even the heavier history, Cold War posters, emergency supplies, became opportunities to pause and talk, not rush past.
That’s what stood out the most.
Nothing here demanded attention.
It invited it.

We spent a longer amount of time at the feathered hat exhibit, beautiful, but also a reminder that fashion once nearly wiped out Florida’s birds.
The sign that said, “Please do not try on the hats, they are all haunted.”
That one got a laugh… and then a full imagination spiral conversation when our cameras that started taking pictures on their own. The kind of humor that sticks.
This display also featured a ceremonial sword that was presented by the YMCA, not for battle, but
as a symbol of leadership and character. This was Aaron's hyperfocus item of the day.

There were also quiet spaces to reset, interesting things to focus on, and enough flexibility to let each person experience it in their own way.
These are the places that work for us.
The ones that don’t fight you.
The ones that meet you where you are.
Not every outing needs to be big or busy.
Sometimes the best ones are the ones that simply make space for curiosity, for connection, and for being exactly who you are. 💙

03/26/2026

We’ve been to the Sanford Museum more times than we can count… and somehow, every time, we notice something new mixed in with the celery..
Yes. Celery.

Sanford has one of those histories you don’t expect.
A whole town built around celery farming…
boats shipping it out…
people’s lives centered around it in a way that feels so distant now
but yet, there it is simple, focused, easy to follow.

What we’ve come to appreciate is how grounding that kind of exhibit can be.
After a disruption in routine this week, getting back into something familiar mattered more than we expected.
And this place gave us that.
It’s calm.
It’s predictable.
You can move at your own pace.
You don’t have to take everything in at once you can just be there.

And then we reached the part of the museum that highlights Sanford’s German community and the roots behind Hollerbach's Willow Tree Café. There front and center hangs a dress that seems familiar to "Snow White" (we have strong disney roots) you could almost see the scenes playing out in the boys heads.

The story, the culture, the history… all connecting and coming to life without needing a single word.
There’s something really special about a place that lets everyone connect in their own way.

For some, it’s the history.
For some, it’s the stories.
For some… it’s celery. 😄

It’s not loud.
It’s not overwhelming.
It just quietly gives you space to reset, explore, and ease back into your normal rhythm.
If you’re ever looking for something low-pressure but still meaningful… this little museum might surprise you.

And because this is Florida…
You might walk out and get greeted by an osprey casually judging you from a tree like it owns the place. 😂

03/12/2026

Today we spent some time exploring the Museum of Arts and Science (The BROWN)

We come here often and it's always an interesting experience, the visit often looks very different than what people might expect.
While some visitors go from one exhibit to the next trying to see everything, our group moves in a way that feels comfortable and predictable.

That often means visiting the same rooms, the same displays, and even traveling through the museum in the same order each time we go,
and honestly, that’s part of what makes the trip successful.
For many, familiarity makes a huge difference. Knowing what hallway comes next, which exhibit is around the corner, or which display they want to stop at can make a large public space feel manageable instead of overwhelming. Watching someone return to a favorite exhibit (sometimes more than once) is a reminder that joy doesn’t always come from seeing something new. Sometimes it comes from revisiting something that already feels safe and interesting.
Of course, public spaces can still bring challenges. When the noise level suddenly jumps, or there's a rush of people it can change the whole sensory environment. But having a familiar path through the museum helps bring things back to a comfortable place.

So I’m curious…
If you were visiting a museum or a place you enjoy, would you rather explore something new every time, or revisit the same favorite spots again and again? 😊

03/08/2026

A birthday isn’t just about age.
It’s about celebrating the person exactly as they are.
Thirty-Two years of laughter.
Thirty-Two years of learning.
Thirty-Two years of a life that matters deeply to the people who love them.

And sometimes the best birthday wish isn’t about changing who someone is , it’s about making the world a little kinder, a little calmer, and a little more understanding for them. 💙

Happy Birthday Aaron

03/05/2026

Exploring history isn’t always quiet… and sometimes that’s part of the adventure.
Today we spent time in downtown Orlando.

What we expected to be a calm museum day quickly turned into something a little different several school field trips groups were visiting at the same time, which meant the noise level and activity were much higher than usual.

For many on the spectrum, environments like this can be challenging. Loud voices, sudden movement, and crowded exhibit spaces can quickly become overwhelming. But instead of ending the experience, it became a chance to practice something important: learning how to navigate public spaces together.

We slowed down, took breaks inside the quiet elevator, moved between quieter exhibits, and focused on the parts of the museum that sparked curiosity.

One highlight was exploring early animation technology turning the crank on a mutoscope and watching images come to life frame by frame. It was a simple but fascinating reminder of how creativity and technology have shaped the way we tell stories.
Another favorite was the display about Central Florida tourism history including vintage Walt Disney World memorabilia and the iconic Interstate 4 sign with the Mickey silhouette. Seeing how the region grew into the place we know today, brought on a lot of great memories.

The historic courtroom exhibit was another moment where everyone paused to take it in. Standing in a room where real decisions once shaped the community helped connect the past to the present in a powerful way.

And of course… the polar bears. Because every museum visit deserves a photo with giant polar bears. 🐻‍❄️

Outside the museum, the day continued with a look at some of the public art and architecture that makes downtown Orlando unique including large murals and the striking artwork incorporated into buildings like the Ocean Bank tower.

Days like this remind us that accessibility isn’t about making the world silent or empty.

It’s about learning strategies, supporting one another, and finding ways to enjoy experiences even when the environment is busy.

Public spaces can be unpredictable.
But with patience, teamwork, and a little flexibility, they can also be incredibly rewarding.

Today was full of discovery, laughter, and a few sensory challenges and that’s okay. That’s real life. And we navigated it together. 💙

03/02/2026

There’s something powerful about walking through a park with an adult who experiences the world differently.

A walk isn’t always “just a walk.”
For many autistic adults, the park can be both a refuge and a recalibration space. The steady rhythm of footsteps.
The predictability of a familiar trail. The feel of wind instead of fluorescent lights.

Nature doesn’t demand small talk.
It doesn’t rush. It simply exists and that
can be deeply regulating.

The world can be loud in ways people don’t
always see.
Crowded offices. Constant notifications. Social expectations that require endless
masking.
Reading between lines.
Filtering noise.
Managing eye contact. It adds up.

Out here, among trees and open sky, there’s
permission to unmask.
Maybe conversation flows.
Maybe it doesn’t.
Maybe there’s a need for quiet stretches.
Maybe there’s deep focus on the exact pattern of bark on an oak tree or the
symmetry of the walking path.

Connection doesn’t have to be constant
chatter.
It can be walking side by side without pressure.
It can be respecting sensory needs.
It can be understanding that overwhelm
doesn’t disappear with age.

It can be recognizing that adults on the spectrum are navigating a world built for neurotypical rhythms often brilliantly, often
exhaustingly.

Inclusion for adults with autism isn’t about treating them like children.
It’s about respect. Autonomy. Listening. Flexibility.
It’s choosing patience over assumption.
Curiosity over judgment.
Presence over fixing.
Sometimes advocacy looks like policy.
Sometimes it looks like workplace accommodation.
And sometimes it looks like simply taking a walk together no expectations, no performance, just shared steps and open air.

The park doesn’t ask anyone to fit in.
Maybe we could learn from that.

02/26/2026

This week we headed out for an adventure close to home, a visit to the Seminole County History Museum!
From early Florida pioneers to railroad expansion, citrus farming, and the stories that shaped our community, this museum brings Seminole County’s past to life.

02/22/2026

A visit to the Orlando Science Center this week!

02/06/2026

Another Thursday- another adventure!

01/29/2026

A Thursday morning adventure!

12/06/2025

11/06/2025

Today’s adventure with dinosaurs!