The Puzzle Piece

 Autism can oftentimes be viewed in a negative light. Worrying about meltdowns, social skills and all around progress can be exhausting and daunting for autistic people and those who care about them. However, there is so much positivity we can gain from this condition as well. So, in the interest of shining some light on this potentially dark situation, here are some of the positive things that come from autism.  People With Autism Rarely Lie Most of us lie in our daily lives. Sometimes, it can be to keep that surprise party a secret or to spare another's feelings. There can be all kinds of reasons to feel the need to tell that little white lie. And these untruths can sometimes pop up in our conversations freely and frequently.  Autistic people rarely lie. They rarely find the reason to. If they are capable, an autistic individual can express themselves honestly about how they are feeling or what they are doing. The situation doesn't matter. Positive or negative, an autis...

 For many of us, if not all of us, there are certain mysteries surrounding autism and people in the special needs community. Dealing with some of the effects of autism can often leave us scratching our heads in confusion. Those who do not deal with special needs can often have their own views or beliefs. Sometimes this is due to no exposure to the special needs community. Other times, it can be related to things they have heard about autism or autistic individuals. I thought it might be helpful to discuss some of the popular myths surrounding autism in order that we might understand it better and be able to better share that information with others.  Myth # 1 People with Autism Don't want Friends This is false. People with autism can sometimes have problems with speech, such as forming words or problems making certain sounds. Due to this difficulty, it can be difficult to socialize with others and create a potential friendship. This doesn't mean they don't want friends. The...