Totally Over The Spectrum

Why can an autistic person spend hours doing something they enjoy but struggle to start a task that takes ten minutes? What looks like laziness from the outside may actually involve executive functioning difficulties, autistic inertia, sensory challenges, or exhaustion. But why are we so quick to judge people for not being productive in the first place? This week, we're challenging the assumpt...

“Look at me when I'm talking to you.” It's something autistic children hear all the time, but what are we really asking? Looking someone in the eyes doesn't necessarily mean they're paying attention, and looking away doesn't mean they're being disrespectful. We question why eye contact continues to be emphasized in schools, what happens when children are rewarded for ignori...

Independence is often treated as the ultimate goal, but for autistic people, the pressure to do everything on their own can come at a significant cost. When does encouraging independence become an unrealistic expectation, and what's the difference between independence and autonomy? We explore how masking, constant self-monitoring, and the reluctance to ask for help can contribute to autistic b...

School refusal can turn every morning into a battle. A child may cry, hide, shut down, become aggressive, or simply be unable to walk through the school doors. For autistic kids, school refusal can be connected to sensory overload, social exhaustion, bullying, academic demands, masking, and eventually burnout. In this episode, we talk about what school refusal can actually look like, why autistic...

Inclusion is about more than putting an autistic student in a mainstream classroom. And a specialized classroom isn't automatically exclusion. What matters is whether the student has access to learning, appropriate support, meaningful relationships, and a sense of belonging. In this episode, we talk about the debate between inclusive and specialized classrooms, why inclusion without adequate s...

Milestones don’t always look like graduations, birthdays, first words, or getting a driver's licence. For many autistic people, meaningful milestones can be things other people might not even notice, like trying a new food, using the toilet independently, making a phone call, asking for accommodations, or recognizing when you need a break. In our 100th episode, we talk about why celebrating pr...

Autistic behaviour can be interpreted very differently when it doesn’t match what people expect. Eye contact, facial expressions, response time, body language, and even the way someone responds under stress can all be misread as rude, evasive, uncooperative, or suspicious. For autistic people, these misunderstandings can have serious consequences, particularly in situations where others are making...

The term “profound autism” has become increasingly controversial, raising questions about how we describe autistic people with very high support needs. While support needs can vary significantly between autistic people, does creating another category actually lead to better support, or does it create more separation? In this episode, we talk about where the term “profound autism” came from, what i...

Learning about money is about much more than dollars and cents. It helps children develop decision-making, planning, independence, and confidence. For many autistic children, financial concepts are easier to understand when they're taught through real-life experiences, visual supports, and opportunities to practice making meaningful choices. Check out our website! https://www.totallyoverthespe...

"First, Then" has become one of the most commonly used strategies for supporting autistic children, but is it actually helpful, or have we been using it incorrectly? In this episode, we explore when "First, Then" can reduce anxiety through predictability, where it can unintentionally become compliance-based, and why context matters more than the strategy itself. Check out our w...

Many autistic children want meaningful friendships, but they don't always experience or express friendship in the same way as their neurotypical peers. Communication differences, sensory overload, repeated rejection, and social exhaustion can make building and maintaining friendships more challenging, even when the desire for connection is there. Check out our website! https://www.totallyoverthesp...

Stimming is one of the most recognizable autistic traits, but it's also one of the most misunderstood. While many people assume stimming is something that should be stopped, it often serves an important purpose by helping autistic people regulate their nervous system, process emotions, manage sensory input, and even improve concentration. Check out our website! https://www.totallyoverthespectr...

Many autistic adults spend years feeling different without understanding why. They may struggle with sensory overload, social exhaustion, masking, transitions, or feeling out of sync with the people around them, never recognizing these as common autistic experiences. Check out our website! https://www.totallyoverthespectrum.ca Follow us on socials! https://www.facebook.com/groups/totallyoverthespe...

For many autistic people, everyday changes can be some of the most challenging moments of the day. Whether it's switching activities, leaving the house, changing plans, or ending something enjoyable, transitions often require far more neurological processing than most people realize. Check out our website! https://www.totallyoverthespectrum.ca Follow us on socials! https://www.facebook.com/gro...

Skill regression can be one of the most confusing and frightening experiences for parents and autistic individuals alike. Someone suddenly seems unable to do things that they could previously manage. This episode explores: The difference between true skill loss and reduced access to skills Why autistic abilities are often dependent on capacity, stress, and environment The connection between burnou...

“You’re too blunt.” “You have no filter.” “That was rude.” Many autistic people grow up being told to always tell the truth, only to discover that honesty is acceptable until it makes someone uncomfortable. This episode discusses: Why autistic communication is often more literal and information-focused The difference between clarity and social “buffering” Why neurotypical communication often relie...

Autistic social exhaustion is often misunderstood as shyness, introversion, or “just being tired.” But for many autistic people, it goes far beyond that. This episode explores: What autistic social exhaustion actually is Why social interaction can require intense cognitive effort The hidden cost of masking Why exhaustion often shows up after the interaction How burnout can develop when recovery ne...

Autistic meltdowns are real. Dysregulation is real. Compassion matters. But somewhere along the way, understanding autistic behaviour started to become confused with excusing all behaviour entirely. This episode explores: Why meltdowns are not the same as tantrums The difference between explanation and permission Why autistic kids often need clear, predictable boundaries How to teach replacement b...

The screen time debate has been going on for decades, but the guidelines were never designed with autistic people in mind. Check out our website! https://www.totallyoverthespectrum.ca Follow us on socials! https://www.facebook.com/groups/totallyoverthespectrumautismdiscussiongroup https://www.instagram.com/totallyoverthespectrum/

“High functioning” and “low functioning” are everywhere, but they were never actually clinical terms. In this episode, we break down where these labels came from, why they’ve stuck around, and why they don’t reflect the real experiences of autistic people. Check out our website! https://www.totallyoverthespectrum.ca Follow us on socials! https://www.facebook.com/groups/totallyoverthespectrumautism...

“Autism is overdiagnosed.” It’s a common claim, but is it accurate? We take a closer look at what’s really behind rising diagnosis rates and why this conversation often misses the bigger picture. 👉 Like, follow, and subscribe for new episodes! Check out our website! https://www.totallyoverthespectrum.ca Follow us on socials! FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/totallyoverthespectrumautismdiscussi...

What happens when your body doesn’t clearly tell you what it needs? In this episode, we talk about interoception in autism, why “something just feels wrong,” and how that can affect everything from basic needs to emotional regulation. If this episode resonates, follow along and share it to help more people understand autistic experiences. Check out our website! https://www.totallyoverthespectrum.c...

Out in public and your autistic child has a full-on meltdown. What do you do? Public meltdowns can be intense, stressful, and confusing, but they are overwhelm, not misbehaviour. In this episode, we explore why meltdowns happen in public, strategies to co-regulate and keep your child safe, and how to plan ahead to reduce overwhelm in future outings. Topics covered include managing public meltdowns...

This episode explores what triggers overwhelm, how to respond without escalating stress, and ways to help children understand and regulate their emotions. Adult regulation is just as important, because how caregivers react shapes learning. Topics covered include supporting autistic children, emotional regulation, meltdowns, shutdowns, sensory overload, and practical parenting strategies. Have you...

Some of the harshest messages we hear about autism come from ourselves. Internalized ableism happens when society’s ideas about disability get turned inward. Instead of “society thinks I am too much,” it becomes “I am too much.” It can show up as masking, shame around support, comparing yourself to neurotypical standards, avoiding accommodations, and feeling like a burden. In this episode, we unpa...