Welcome to Embrace ASD,
a research-based autism blog,
by and for autistic people.


Autistically researched & presented by:

Dr. Natalie Engelbrecht BA, MSc, RP, ND
& Martin Silvertant B.Des

Autism Spectrum Difference:

A neurodevelopmental difference characterized
by alterations in
social functioning, hyper- (and/or
hypo)sensitivity to stimuli, repetitive behaviors,
and
obsessive interests—often combined with
advanced cognitive & perceptive abilities.

Welcome

We are Natalie and Martin, an autistic
psychotherapist and graphic designer couple.
You might call us an Autism Spectrum Duo!

Embrace ASD is our effort to bring you
research & experience-based autism content,
to help you better understand yourself,
empower yourself, embrace your advantages,
and overcome your challenges.

Visit our blog to start learning
more about yourself!

Super Powers

Did you know that autistic people have abilities beyond the range experienced by neurotypicals?

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Kryptonite

Every super hero has its Kryptonite, however. Some of our abilities have their drawbacks, too.

read more

Main Questions

What is autistic
savant syndrome?

Savant syndrome is a condition characterized by mental diabilities combined with exceptional abilities—usually related to memory. Although rare, a disproportionate 1 in 10 autistic people are savants. One such savant is Daniel Tammet, who can recite 22,514 digits of π. Read more

Is there a link between
autism and giftedness?

A link has been found between autism and high intelligence & giftedness; estimated rates of intellectual giftedness in autistic children is 0.7–2%, compared to a up to 1% in the general public. Some researchers regard autism as a “disorder of high intelligence.” Read more

Do people with autism
lack empathy?

It is a damaging myth that autistic people lack empathy. We can be highly empathetic, but may not always sense the socially appropriate way to communicate it. Due to our low theory of mind, displays of empathy may be delayed until a situation is made salient to us. Read more

Why is routine important
to people with autism?

Routine provides a framework to make things controlled and manageable; it gives us something we can rely on in a predominantly unpredictable world. An interrupted routine can disrupt our entire schedule, meaning we have to consider everything all over again.  Read more

What is an autistic
meltdown and shutdown?

When we are triggered by social stress, a meltdown can ensue, which resembles a tantrum. A shutdown is a response to social triggers or sensory overload, after which the person becomes unresponsive, and take a nap in order to recharge. Read more

Why are autistic
females rare?

Autistic females are not actually rare. But since autism presents differently in females, many are misdiagnosed or remain undiagnosed. What was thought to be a 4:1 male-to-female ratio of autism, is now predicted to be closer to a 2:1 male-to-female ratio. Read more

 

Embrace ASD

I can EMBRACE who I am
or REJECT who I am
I can see myself having SUPER POWERS
or I can see myself having SYMPTOMS
I can TAME my Kryptonite
or I can DROWN in my challenges
I can CHERISH my uniqueness
or DISOWN my peculiarities
I can UTILIZE my cognitive abilities
or let my sensitivities OVERPOWER me
I can see what is COOL about who I am
or I can LOATHE who I am
How I choose to perceive myself
affects my life, other autistic people,
and people’s perceptions of autism.
Whatever I choose, I will still have autism. Therefore I choose
to EMBRACE ASD, be a SUPERHERO, TAME, CHERISH, UTILIZE, and see what is COOL about me.

Highlights

Autism & high intelligence

Although up to 70% of autistics have an intellectual disability, the intelligence levels of autistic people in general are highly polarized, with those classified as high-functioning autistic or Aspergers scoring average to above-average. Moreover, compared to the general public, more autistic people score in the gifted range (140+ IQ).

Research actually suggests that autism is a “disorder of high intelligence” as a number of […]


read more

A fear response to calm chemicals

Studies have found that when people are afraid, they release chemicals that are picked up by others, and act as a contagion making others afraid. People with ASD, however, have a different response.

While most of us are aware that people with autism have a challenge with interpreting facial expressions, what fascinated me was that we have the same challenge with the odours that we are unaware of smelling, but which are, nonetheless, a part of […]


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Thinking styles in
autistic people

Temple Grandin describes autism 
as a behavioral profile that has strengths and weaknesses. She has suggested that autistic people’s thinking fall into one of three categories: visual thinkers; verbal/logic thinkers; and musical/mathematical thinkers. Although each person falls predominantly into one category, one can have a mixture of two or three.

Visual thinkers — Visual thinkers think in pictures and see […]


read more

 

Do you suspect you
might be autistic?

Try any (or several) of these tests:

AQ-10


10 questions

The AQ-10 is a condensed version of the AQ Test used as a screening tool to identify those who may benefit from a more comprehensive autism assessment

AQ Test


50 questions

The Autism Spectrum Quotient Test is the best measure of ASD A score of 26 or above is
within the autistic range Only 2% who score 34 or
higher are not autistic

Aspie Quiz


150 questions

The Aspie Quiz gives an indication of neurodiverse
and neurotypical traits Can be used to give a reliable indication of ASD traits prior
to eventual diagnosis

RAADS-R


80 questions

The Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale-Revised can identify subclinical level or presentation of ASD Takes autistic childhood
traits
into account

EQ Test


40 questions

The Empathy Quotient Test gives a measure of your ability to understand how people feel and to respond appropriately Low scores on the EQ
correlate with ASD

SQ Test


75 questions

The Systemizing Quotient Test gives a measure of dependency on routine, categorization, and
systemizing; the drive to understand, construct, predict or control the rules of a system

A joke with some truth to it:

The willingness to do a test with more questions, or to take all or a multitude of tests,
may itself be an indication of autism. We took all the tests, anyway.