Download the North Texas Easter Seals' Autism Event in April 2010 with speaker Lorin Neikirk.

This file should contain the first five chapters of the Kindle (and eBook), "...But That's Another Story!": My Autistic Insight on Einstein's Brain, Giving Good Blog, and Occasional Distractibility... But the file readily available is the full version, so this download is not the preview, but the full version! If you like it, tell your friends to get a download for their Kindle from Amazon.com!
(Click here for download)

People with autism are targets for bullies, abusers, predators, and batterers. Unfortunately, because most people with autism don't think the way these people do, it can be difficult for an adult on the spectrum to determine when their safety is at risk. This risk assessment tool may help someone with autism determine their level of danger in an abusive situation. Please note that this is only a tool. IF YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP, OR IF YOU FEEL YOU ARE IN DANGER, I PERSONALLY URGE YOU TO SEEK ASSISTANCE THROUGH YOUR LOCAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAM. For more information about autism and abuse, please click here. To download the risk assessment tool, please click here.

This is a great, new free tool. It helps follow paths, which are triggered by elements prompted during typical episodes of disagreement or conflict. It is helpful for NTs, because it helps to explain the reasons why certain conversational events can be upsetting to Aspies, when the issue may seem otherwise minor. It is also helpful for Aspies, because it can help to objectify emotions and assist with the need to problem solve their way to a resolution. (The procedural nature of the chart is also a good distraction during moments of distress.)

Download the worksheet that helps you retrain your brain, and steer clear of beliefs that make you feel anxious. How does Ten Reasons work? It's a simple concept, really... We often get anxious when we believe something upsetting. This worksheet helps you take the time to think of ten compassionate reasons why the incident is happening. This takes our mind off the perceived reason, which is often self-critical, or rooted in insecurities or other manifestations of our injured self-esteem. What begins as "she didn't call because she doesn't love me anymore" is developed into other possible compassionate, even dramatic reasons. "She got a call that her father has passed away."; "She is getting her nails done to look pretty for me"; "She has nightmares all night and now she is sleeping peacefully."; "She decided to volunteer at the school, last minute", "She is busy daydreaming about how much she loves me" etc. Of course, the ten reasons are mere possibilities, even if unlikely. The beauty of the exercise is that when we teach our brain "there really could be another reason besides 'she doesn't love me anymore'," we build a resiliency to those stress triggers. The Ten Reasons workbook gives more detail about the concept, and has a  generous portion of worksheets to complete and refer back to. Or, you can download the free worksheet here.