Unfortunately, people on Tik Tok think her mom is doing too much and not letting her be herself. She had to limit comments for a while but people see some videos and think the worst. You can clearly see her mom has done soooo much to help her and even Abbey knows that
I must praise how Abbey's mom has gone above and beyond not only to understand her child, but to help her advance in the world. A true example of a cheerleader. ❤
I hope when I'm a mom, I embody the kindness Abby's mom has. She is so patient and nurturing, doesn't try to hush her when she interrupts or control what her responses are. Bless you, Christine. More moms should be like you.
I think this is the first time I’ve seen Abby’s mom have a chance in an interview to really, fully articulate her thoughts on the change to diagnostic criteria and interventions for autism and it makes me realize that she’s been misrepresented and judged really harshly when she actually has such valuable input about all of this. I hope she has more opportunities to speak about this and the Taylors knocked this interview out of the park in this regard.
I actually couldn't agree less. Her views are dogwater. She uses nazi terminology which she KNOWS is wrong. And she has argued with me personally online, essentially boiling down to her not thinking im "autistic enough" for the label. Sincerely, one of the Autistics she consistently invalidated throughout this video.
“I want to control my memory and not talk about it anymore.” I genuinely don’t know why but that statement hits my soul close to home. Im proud of her for speaking her mind and standing up for her boundaries without prompt. That can be hard for anyone. Side note: I loved this. My first for this podcast and wont be the last.
This was also my first podcast and I completely agree. I respect you whole heartedly and I don’t know you but this statement hit me in the same way. I used to be afraid of setting my boundaries as I struggled with that since I was younger but a lot has changed since then and now I feel good about setting boundaries, as well as maintaining them. I hope Abbey feels the same gratification with acknowledging boundaries
can we just take a moment to appreciate how genuine tay and tay are with all guest no matter who they are! I love watching how accommodating you were towards abbey and his you changed the typical layout of your podcast to accomodate her.
I could listen to Abby talk all day. Her mother is also just as amazing. I can see where she gets it from. The tenacity and determination to be seen and heard is inspiring.
I think it’s important to remember autism is truly a spectrum. And although someone might not seem “as autistic” as others, doesn’t mean they haven’t been struggling for years and silence. Doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be relieved to have an answer, so to speak. It’s also important to acknowledge that a diagnosis that occurs for someone by their healthcare professional, is their business, not ours. It’s so wonderful to see the moments where there’s really great appreciation for how Abbey’s mind is just different, not wrong. It’s just another way to think and process and it does come with its own struggles with trying to fit into a neurotypical world.
This is the comment I was looking for :) I was so relieved to get my diagnosis because I finally understood why I felt so different for my entire life.
As a special needs mom, I smiled through this whole episode. Makes my heart so happy to see inclusion and acceptance through something like this!!! Thank you Tay & Tay! 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
When her mom was talking about denying the diagnosis bc of xyz, I felt that!! My son is 5 and is on the spectrum ("low support" ASD). I was confused because he's SO emotionally intelligent, so friendly, so loving and attached, so smart, so well-behaved. But then I realized that part of what made all that possible from an absurdly young age is because his brain must literally catalog the things he learns (including feelings, manners, rules) differently than I could even imagine. All the time, as he gets older, I get so excited for him to be able to show me more of what goes on in that brain of his. I can't wait to see how that presents and what kinds of things he'll be interested in.
What REALLY made his diagnosis hit home was having my daughter when he was 4 years old. When they told me he avoided eye contact, I didn't see it. I felt like he made a normal amount of eye contact! Well, then I had my daughter and this baby girl would be fully squirming and throwing herself to the side in order to put her face in front of mine, just to lock eyes with me for extended periods of time. Absolutely loves eye contact. I literally mentioned to my husband one time, "okay so now I think maybe I didn't notice his lack of eye contact... because I don't make much eye contact... she's putting in work over here to look me in the eyes, even tho I feel like I'm already staring at her all the time!"
As an autistic woman myself, I think a big problem when it comes to diagnosing autism is the stigma that autistic people are “others.” When people perpetuate the stereotype that autistic people have no empathy or we can’t understand basic human emotions or expressions, it creates this false image and separation between human beings. Autism doesn’t make you less human, you are just “different” according to society. Which again is ironic because I find autistic people to be some of the most genuine and humanly people around
I'm so excited for this. My 7 year old has autism and she's non verbal. She started speech in school when she was in kindergarten and now she's slowly speaking some words but still uses sign language mostly. Abby is a sweetheart. Love how she sheds light on autism.
I really really love Tay. She is so genuine and kind and compassionate. Taylor too, of course. But Tay really shined in this episode and really showed what a wonderful person she is. Thanks for having such a range of guests. I learned so much from this.
This is the first podcast of The Squeeze that I’ve seen. I saw that Abby was going to be on. I then had the podcast pop up and I clicked right away. This was beautiful to watch you all. Abby is incredible and so is her mom! Tay and Taylor, thank you for showing such kindness to Abby and her mom and bringing awareness to Autism!
At 47, I was recently diagnosed with Level 1 Autism (formerly known as Asperger’s Syndrome) and ADHD. For me, the diagnosis brought a profound sense of relief rather than happiness Christine understandably mentions she’s confused by newly diagnosed adults on social media sometimes express. My entire life, I watched others easily manage tasks that always seemed far more challenging for me. The relief comes from finally realizing that it wasn't about failing to keep up-rather, it was like I had been treading water with a weight tied to my leg, while others swam effortlessly beside me. I suspect that many who express joy in their diagnosis aren’t celebrating the disorder itself but rather the validation of a lifelong struggle-finding a reason for the pain, confusion, and challenges they've faced, much like difficulties Christine experiences as a parent and caretaker.
…Christine said she felt like a failure as a mom but when she found she was struggling as a parent because Abbey was autistic she didn’t feel that way anymore. I felt like a failure as a human for 46 years but there’s a relief/joy in learning I’m not; I struggle because I’m autistic and have ADHD.
I completely agree. I am self diagnosed at 50 after two years of research. It took a while to realize why I was always different from my family and peers.
I was diagnosed at 31 and I couldn't say it better. I like to say that I always thought I was a weird person. But now I am a normal autistic person. I don't know if it makes sense to you but in my head it does :)
I'm a 32 year old woman with a son who was diagnosed at 23 months old. He's currently 2½. After getting my son's diagnosis, myself and my family are fairly certain that I also likely have autism, but I've yet to be tested or diagnosed. I'd just like to say this, to sort of reply to Abby's mom: We're happy when we get the diagnosis because it opens doors. It explains behaviors we've had all our lives that we thought were just failings. It allows us access to therapies and resources that aren't available without the diagnosis. Also, I'm forever grateful to everyone who creates opportunities like this to give autism a platform and representation. The more we show people the full spectrum of autism, the sooner we can bring about acceptance and understanding. My son has been so, so lucky to receive his diagnosis so young, and receive services to help him, all before his second birthday even passed. So many other people are not as lucky, and they go through life struggling or feeling left out, frustrated, "weird", etc. I don't wish that on anyone and I pray someday, the whole wonderful, colorful spectrum of humanity is seen, understood, and accepted.
I cried watching this episode. As someone who has a child with autism and brothers on the spectrum, it means so much seeing this inclusivity on such a wonderful platform. Taylor and Tay- thank you for being the wonderful people you are! ❤
I think I misjudged abbeys mom. This was the first time I've really gotten to see her express herself in a more long form format and she's wonderful and communicates in such a lovely way about her experiences and knowledge on autism. I love how she allows Abbey to express her ideas herself and she genuinely seems to be here as an advocate and educator instead of just a fake seeker. Great interview!
Abbey is so lucky to have had such an early diagnosis as a girl, and a supportive family! Im a caregiver and it makes me so emotional seeing what an early diagnosis and supportive upbringing can do for someone on the spectrum, not everyone is so lucky.
This was so eye opening to me. Thanks for having Abbey and her Mom on your show. My son is 21 and was diagnosed as being on the spectrum just a year ago. Outwardly he doesn’t display so much, but inwardly he’s in turmoil. Abby’s Mom articulated so well that there are different forms of autism. I wish I’d had my son in therapy years ago. We’re getting a late start but now I feel like there is hope. As every Mom, I want my son to have peace with himself and to learn more about the way his brain works and get the tools to lead a fulfilling life in our world.
i got diagnosed at 17 and i genuinely believe it was the best thing that happened to me and saved my life. it was refreshing being able to finally put on a label to everything i’ve felt my whole life but never understood.
I was so relieved and happy by my diagnosis because I finally had the understanding for why I am the way I am, and it deeply helped me understand myself and how I interact with the world around me. Getting diagnosed is not always an earth shattering experience, for me it opened my worldview!
Thank you so much for this episode! I've got AuDHD (Autism & ADHD) it wasn't until I was in my 20s that I found out even though I grew up hearing how I probably had Autism. Mine is considered more high functioning but I get overstimulated easily and go through periods where words just won't come out so I taught myself how to sign! Def related to music, that's how I learned when I was young things like my address and other information, my aunt would turn it into songs and walk around with me singing it until I memorized it. I am really glad that Abbey has such a wonderful and understanding mother! Christine did such a great job of explaining things. When I present outside, it may seem like I am not AuDHD but internally its a whole mess. That present at the end was so precious! Knitting helps a lot, for Abbey my advice to make the blanket is to either get baby blanket yarn and size 15mm needles so it comes out thick and fluffy, there's also some you can knit with your arms...or if all of that feels like too much, one of the tricks I've learned is to make a bunch of scarves the same size then sew them together and it's not as intimidating!
I am writing this through tears. This is one of the most beautiful conversations I have witnessed. The love in that room is infectious. So beautiful to see the love and respect! 💗
Rushed to watch this! My 5 year old daughter was diagnosed with autism last year. She uses gestalt language and speaks in memories like Abbey, and the only way that I was able to learn about that was from Abbey through TikTok!!
Love On the Spectrum is one of the best shows I have watched on Netflix and Abbey is one of my favourites. She is just the sweetest and prettiest. Thank you for inviting them, this is my first time watching your show as well.
As someone with a disability, I appreciate how articulate and educated Abbey’s mom is. She is amazing. She knows her child and is always learning and supporting her. I love this❤️
Thank you so so much tae and Taylor as a person who has a learning disability and friends who have autism thank you so much for being so supportive and kind . Not everyone is kind and open to us all with special needs.
As a mom of a child on the spectrum (2yrs old) and just getting started on this journey… I agree with Abby’s mom. As happy as I was to know I wasn’t crazy that something wasn’t right with my child.. I was devastated hearing that diagnosis. I knew my life was about to change & I had no idea what his life would look like. I am so grateful to have as many resources as we do now
I can see how Christine has tried so hard to be the most hands on and advocate for Abbey to get the skills and tools needed to excel in the world. I loved that she brought it back to Abbey and all the work Abbey has put forward. Christine knows that her effort would be in vain if it wasn't for her daughter's drive to accept the help and be on board to do the different therapies and opportunities over the years. Christine is a true example of being an advocate for your kid but also following the kids lead. Great episode!
It explain to abbyes mom why it was a happy time for me getting diagnosed. Im a 22 year old female and was just diagnosed last year. It was an extremely stressful and overwhelming time aswell. And caused family issues since my mom always thought my behaviours were normal cause she does them too (idk if its from her adhd or if she is also on the spectrum). But i had faced soooo many issues growing up and never feeling like the other kids and always thinking something was wrong with me and struggling with communication and school, but being smart but failing classes, being talkitive but getting misunderstood. so to find out what it was and that its not something wrong with me and its just different has been so so validating. I think given how young abbey was it was prolly so different for you (worrying about what the rest of her life will be like). Where as as an adult whos had a lot of struggles and has been seen as different their whole life, its more a sense or relief.
i feel the same as you and i was gonna say it too! i wasn’t happy that im autistic necessarily but i was so glad to finally know why i felt different. When I was a kid i literally felt like i was an alien among the other kids and genuinely thought there was something seriously wrong with me. when i finally got diagnosed at 19, i was just thrilled to know that i’m still a normal human just with a brain wired differently and finally knew how to get supports and support myself
Ran here to watch first thing this morning!! My 3.5 year old daughter reminds me so much of Abbey; you are such an inspiration and give me such huge hope for her future. She loves lion king and singing too💐
Thank you so much Abbey and your mum for sharing your story. My son has autism spectrum disorder and is 4 years old and i always worry for what his future will look like. He also is a gestalt language processor and uses echolalia, he also sings all day long but does not verbally communicate with us, this was so validating as a parent and really helped me understand his world a little better. He is a clever boy with numbers and words in books. This will be helpful for so many people, what amazing people Abbey and her mum are, this was really enjoyable to watch ❤
I relate a lot to Abbey’s mum, as a parent of a high support needs son who has a lot of verbal communication difficulties. But as someone who has struggled with feeling on the outside my whole life and wondering what was wrong with me, I was excited to have my suspicions confirmed and getting a diagnosis. TikTok didn’t exist when I put the pieces together, but RUclips helped me work it out. It is a big diagnosis and I have complicated feelings about it, but it was a relief to know that I’m not just broken and wrong. I’m not just this awful rude person. I hope Abbeys mum will get to understand the other side of the experience and why it’s a relief to get that diagnosis. in fact it was also a relief when my son was diagnosed, I already knew he was autistic but he couldn’t receive the help he needed without the diagnosis. I definitely understand feeling as though some people are victimising themselves with self diagnosis on very limited criteria, but I also hope that if more and more people are being diagnosed, accommodations will become more common.
I was diagnosed with ADHD in February. And when Abby described how her brain works, I understood what she meant. I’ve been watching her since Love on The Spectrum and it’s been amazing watching her grow. ❤️ she’s a beautiful person. You two were such great hosts, super accommodating to Abby and very respectful. I’d love to have more people from Love On The Spectrum in the future!
I just got my official autism diagnosis a few days ago and I’m so happy to see people like me being treated so nicely, also having written out questions is a great idea for some autistic guests as it helps them with communication skills and feeling less anxious ❤
Listening to how Abby presented when she was little brought tears to my eyes, I was literally the exact same. I remember such visceral fear and upset, and frustration at not being able to articulate why, “I’m not being difficult on purpose! I’m sorry! I’m sorry, I promise!” I’m 21 now and only just being diagnosed. It’s so interesting seeing how women/afab people present so vastly, and how so many slipped through the cracks for so long. Beautiful episode, thank you guys for having Abby and her mother on! It’s so important that we talk about these things if not just for learning but a sense of community also.
I didn't know about these interviewers until I saw a short about it. They are fantastic and respectful. Many people infantilize people with autism kind of like they do with the elderly but these people were just respectful and spoke adult to adult and I really loved that. Also I hate that the DSM changed autism labels because now it's more confusing and I think it was much more clear before.
Thank you guys so much for doing this episode 🥹 as the mother of a son with a neurodevelopmental syndrome, listening to her mother speak about her experience made me feel less alone in this journey. And listening to Abbey speak makes me hopeful that one day my non verbal son will be able to tell me about his experience. Love you guys so much!
I love this episode so much! Abbey and Christine are so inspirational and are moving mountains with the awareness around autism and it is beautiful to witness!
This made my day! My husband and I love Love of the Spectrum, especially being that our 5 year old is autistic. That show truly warmed our hearts and I thank you for having Abbey and her incredible mother on your podcast. You guys were so respectful and engaging with Abbey. The amount of awareness and acceptance happening for those on the spectrum gives me so much hope for our son’s future! He’s amazing 🫶🏻
I could listen to abbey all day she’s so beautiful inside out and how smart she is. Also would like to say how sweet Taylor and tae are with who ever are on there show. Love you! 💜🥰
This make me happy as someone who has disability watching them accommodate her and letting her talk even if it tangent was amazing. I wish more people were like Tay and Taylor.
Wow!!! My son Ben was diagnosed Aspergers when he was 2 1/2 ! Abbey is the only other child that was diagnosed at such a young age that I heard of. I had such a fight with my parents and in laws pertaining to having my son tested and diagnosed and treatment but I knew my child. I knew my son was different. I raised my son to understand he does not have a disability but he does have a different ability. I envy you all!!! Shine girl! To
I have never watched the squeeze podcast before. I saw that abbey was going to be on so I decided to watch. I am now a fan of you both. You earned a new subscriber.
Thank you for having Abbey on the podcast. My daughter is also named Abbey. Spelled A-b-b-e-y as well. She is also autistic but cannot speak. I learned a lot about how Abbey’s mind works from the perspective of A autistic person. Loved her on love on the spectrum! ❤🧩
I loved this so much!! I already love your style of interviewing, but the way you guys talked to both Abbey and her mom was amazing. I'm so happy you got to interview them 💛
This mom is my hero. I am currently struggling with my son who is on the spectrum and it is like this mom is seeing me. This mom is seeing what I needed to hear and what my son is maybe struggling with. Thank you Taylor and Taylor for doing this podcast!!
I hope the process goes well for you. I’m autistic and it took decades for me to realize why I am the way I am. Back in the 70’s there was no formal process for diagnosing autism. I just lived with no friends for years, always reading, and not learning how to socialize well. I was a kid that had these isolating experiences that my parents had no explanation for. They brought me to doctors, had speech therapy, kept to myself, been bullied, etc. it wasn’t until a few years ago that autism made itself known to me. I did my research and finally realized why I am the way I am. I relate to Abby fairly well.
My son has autism and I love seeing how people with autism bring so much joy to new people they meet with their blunt, random, funny comments. “Speaking of anxiety Piglet has anxiety!” Taylor and girl tay were tickled by abbey’s comments lol
as someone who wasn’t diagnosed till 21, the reason i cried because i was so happy was because for 21 years of my life i didnt understand myself, i didnt understand why people didn’t understand me! i was navigating a world which didnt make any sense, i was not seen as valid because i didnt have an answer to why i was the way i am, i normally love abby’s mum but honestly this really hurt me and i had to stop watching, and i get its been “hard” for you as a parent but please don’t make us feel worse for how our disability affects you, it’s exhausting living with it 24/7
Things can be hard for two people at once. You shouldn't invalidate or deny other people's experiences/emotions just because they make you feel uncomfortable
Wow I can so identify with the waking up at 2am and not going back to sleep. My son would wake up as if it the start of the day, and would not go back to sleep. This happened for months on end. We nearly lost our minds. Also my son also put every single thing in his mouth. He has a dual diagnosis of Down syndrome and autism. He is 6 and non verbal, so seeing Abbey gives much hope for the future. I can fully understand the amount of work her mother has put in. It takes over your entire life. My son is also obsessed with music…
This was awesome! I absolutely LOVE Abbie. They are both such genuine, kind hearted people. I love that abbys mom is very respectful, making sure it's okay with Abby if she answers the question. Instead of trying to speak for her. We need more people like them in this world. ♥️♥️
I'm mum to an 11 year old daughter diagnosed with ASD with a profound PDA profile, currently going through the ADHD diagnosis. She was originally diagnosed at 3 with Aspergers then more recently it has been updated. She talked very early, loves books, way ahead of her peers but struggles with processing information, sensory issues mostly with sound & she thrives on echolalia. Her PDA is driven by extreme anxiety levels so typical autism support strategies don't work with PDA children. She has full time support at a mainstream secondary school (just started this week) and is at the top of her year. She's very smart, but accessing the typical education system is difficult, and I've fought to get her the support she needs to nurture her ability. Her ambition is to get into drama & music & acting. She plays electric guitar and has a beautiful singing voice. This podcast is amazing!
I 100% agree with Abby’s mum about the ‘being happy about the diagnosis’. I’m a high functioning 22 year old and I only got diagnosed last year and getting that diagnosis was one of the hardest things I received, yes in the long run I’m happy because it helps other people to understand me more, but my immediate reaction was mourning the life I could have had if I was diagnosed sooner and some anger (I guess is a strong word but irritation doesn’t work either) towards my parents for not realising earlier especially when I was younger as i was way more visible. I never use the word happy when people ask me if I’m happy I got diagnosed, it just makes my daily life easier because I have a word to explain my behaviours but I’m not happy because I’d rather not be on the spectrum if that makes any sense? Anyways love this episode 💓 30:04
Oh my goodness!! I am truly sooo happy to see Abbey and her mom on your show! Abbey and her Mom Christine are very informative. I appreciate this opportunity you guys took to understand both of their perspectives on a deeper level. Wonderful! this podcast makes me so happy! 🥰☺
I am 34 year old woman who recently (this past year ) got diagnosed with with autism, inattentive ADHD, generalized anxiety and social anxiety. Social media has been a significant influence that led me to getting an assessment done by my psychiatrist. I'm happy because I now understand why I've had so many struggles in my life. My diagnosis has allowed me to have grace and acceptance towards my differences. I am grateful for the information and awareness that continues to grow because it is helping me learn how to accommodate and properly care for myself. My 6 year old son is also high functioning autistic and im grateful because the more I learn about my autistic self, the better I can understand my autistic son and his needs. 😇
I love how respectful Abby‘s mom speaks on the perception of autism as a whole, especially the areas that she is not familiar with, I think it is so important to create a connection where there’s a divide between parents of children with autism and individual people with autism if that makes sense. I discovered I was autistic by watching the show as a confirmed 1 million things for me and allowed me to see high masking, hyper verbal, anxious women and recognize myself in them. I grew up thinking that there was something wrong with me and now I understand I’m just different and it can be celebrated and there is so much pain that I think every parent of a child with autism experiences and I think if we were able to all come together in all of our experiences and understand that all of this is autism, all of it is important no matter what our differences are we have this common ground which we need to support each other and make those changes which she talks about in the real world. This was such an awesome podcast and I’m excited to hear more from both of them and y’all! Thank you for creating this space
Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for having Abby and her mom, Christine, on the show to share their autism journey. My 5 year old son is "high functioning" level 1, his mind seems to work a lot like Abby's, and seeing this just brings me so much happiness and hope. Thank you for bringing awareness. Abby is the sweetest!
It’s really good for Abby’s mum to acknowledge the misconceptions about autism. I was diagnosed as an adult and remember vividly the first time the idea was brought up. I was speaking to a doctor in a second language, and the only word I took from the conversation in the end was “autism.” After the fact, I reacted with anger. I clearly had my own misconceptions about autism, and it took me six months to get my mind around the idea of pursuing a diagnosis. Society has a thousand ideas about what autism is, and it often resorts to the extremes of high-needs people who are unable to communicate, or the opposite end, where people are socially awkward but often have pronounced ability, like the Rain Man character. But the majority of autistic people are in the middle. I had a conventional education. It was emotionally exhausting. But by being entirely integrated with other children, it probably developed my communication and social skills enough to function like anyone else (at least in limited bursts). But autism is a part of every second of every day of my life. I have difficulty with organising things that the average person probably takes for granted. One wrong idea about autistic people that I cannot say enough is on empathy. There’s this falsehood that autistic people lack empathy. That they are cold and don’t understand the feelings of others. This couldn’t be further from the truth. There are two aspects to empathy. There’s experiencing the feeling, and there’s an ability to communicate it. Many autistic people struggle to articulate their feelings. That doesn’t mean that they don’t feel them. I’m a qualified person-centred counsellor. A therapist. I couldn’t do this work if I didn’t feel empathy. I am lucky to have the communication skills to demonstrate my feeling. Some aren’t that lucky. But to make a broad generalization like that can be incredibly damaging. More power to people that advocate for autistic people! The more people talk about it, the more normalized autistic people will be in society, and the more progress everybody can make.
i know that its because i relate to a whole lot of what abby talks about, but can i just say that i could listen to you guys talk forever and ever. so much knowledge just went into my brain and i enjoyed every single second of this podcast
I love how her mom gives her time to answer, then asks if she wants her to help instead of just speaking for her.
Unfortunately, people on Tik Tok think her mom is doing too much and not letting her be herself. She had to limit comments for a while but people see some videos and think the worst. You can clearly see her mom has done soooo much to help her and even Abbey knows that
The amount of support and care from her mother goes above and beyond 99% of people with autism, she's so lucky
I must praise how Abbey's mom has gone above and beyond not only to understand her child, but to help her advance in the world. A true example of a cheerleader. ❤
I hope when I'm a mom, I embody the kindness Abby's mom has. She is so patient and nurturing, doesn't try to hush her when she interrupts or control what her responses are. Bless you, Christine. More moms should be like you.
I think this is the first time I’ve seen Abby’s mom have a chance in an interview to really, fully articulate her thoughts on the change to diagnostic criteria and interventions for autism and it makes me realize that she’s been misrepresented and judged really harshly when she actually has such valuable input about all of this. I hope she has more opportunities to speak about this and the Taylors knocked this interview out of the park in this regard.
I actually couldn't agree less. Her views are dogwater. She uses nazi terminology which she KNOWS is wrong. And she has argued with me personally online, essentially boiling down to her not thinking im "autistic enough" for the label.
Sincerely,
one of the Autistics she consistently invalidated throughout this video.
Aside from how great Abby is, can we acknowledge how elegantly Abby’s mom speaks? 😍
I’ve never seen 4 more genuine people sit down to talk than this:
“I want to control my memory and not talk about it anymore.”
I genuinely don’t know why but that statement hits my soul close to home. Im proud of her for speaking her mind and standing up for her boundaries without prompt. That can be hard for anyone.
Side note: I loved this. My first for this podcast and wont be the last.
This was also my first podcast and I completely agree. I respect you whole heartedly and I don’t know you but this statement hit me in the same way.
I used to be afraid of setting my boundaries as I struggled with that since I was younger but a lot has changed since then and now I feel good about setting boundaries, as well as maintaining them.
I hope Abbey feels the same gratification with acknowledging boundaries
can we just take a moment to appreciate how genuine tay and tay are with all guest no matter who they are! I love watching how accommodating you were towards abbey and his you changed the typical layout of your podcast to accomodate her.
Yess❤❤❤
My thought this whole interview- they come across so sweet and kind. ❤
...i was SO impressed, also!❤...and of course by abbey and christine!❤
As a person with mild autism myself, I must say: Mr. and Mrs. Lautner, thank you for caring this much! it speaks volumes!
You are autistic. Mild autism doesn’t exist. Since it is a spectrum we are all different, but have the same label based on our shared traits.
@@taoist32 yeah literally. saying things like that are a result of internalized ableism
I love that Taylor is being fangirled over for Sharkboy and not Jacob. I on behavior
The way Abbey was like “And he was in Twilight!” was so unintentionally funny
She cracked me up when she said “2005” 😂 like sis is a real fan
@@Sharletwitch she’s a real one I fw that movie
I could listen to Abby talk all day. Her mother is also just as amazing. I can see where she gets it from. The tenacity and determination to be seen and heard is inspiring.
I think it’s important to remember autism is truly a spectrum. And although someone might not seem “as autistic” as others, doesn’t mean they haven’t been struggling for years and silence. Doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be relieved to have an answer, so to speak. It’s also important to acknowledge that a diagnosis that occurs for someone by their healthcare professional, is their business, not ours.
It’s so wonderful to see the moments where there’s really great appreciation for how Abbey’s mind is just different, not wrong. It’s just another way to think and process and it does come with its own struggles with trying to fit into a neurotypical world.
This is the comment I was looking for :) I was so relieved to get my diagnosis because I finally understood why I felt so different for my entire life.
As a special needs mom, I smiled through this whole episode. Makes my heart so happy to see inclusion and acceptance through something like this!!! Thank you Tay & Tay! 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
Mine are all in their 20s... and I am more than happy watching this. ❤
When her mom was talking about denying the diagnosis bc of xyz, I felt that!! My son is 5 and is on the spectrum ("low support" ASD). I was confused because he's SO emotionally intelligent, so friendly, so loving and attached, so smart, so well-behaved. But then I realized that part of what made all that possible from an absurdly young age is because his brain must literally catalog the things he learns (including feelings, manners, rules) differently than I could even imagine. All the time, as he gets older, I get so excited for him to be able to show me more of what goes on in that brain of his. I can't wait to see how that presents and what kinds of things he'll be interested in.
What REALLY made his diagnosis hit home was having my daughter when he was 4 years old. When they told me he avoided eye contact, I didn't see it. I felt like he made a normal amount of eye contact! Well, then I had my daughter and this baby girl would be fully squirming and throwing herself to the side in order to put her face in front of mine, just to lock eyes with me for extended periods of time. Absolutely loves eye contact. I literally mentioned to my husband one time, "okay so now I think maybe I didn't notice his lack of eye contact... because I don't make much eye contact... she's putting in work over here to look me in the eyes, even tho I feel like I'm already staring at her all the time!"
As an autistic woman myself, I think a big problem when it comes to diagnosing autism is the stigma that autistic people are “others.” When people perpetuate the stereotype that autistic people have no empathy or we can’t understand basic human emotions or expressions, it creates this false image and separation between human beings. Autism doesn’t make you less human, you are just “different” according to society. Which again is ironic because I find autistic people to be some of the most genuine and humanly people around
I'm so excited for this. My 7 year old has autism and she's non verbal. She started speech in school when she was in kindergarten and now she's slowly speaking some words but still uses sign language mostly. Abby is a sweetheart. Love how she sheds light on autism.
My 7 year old has autism as well and I can’t remember the proper term but she talks 24-7 , I hope your daughter does that as well , very soon 💜
Same!
I really really love Tay. She is so genuine and kind and compassionate. Taylor too, of course. But Tay really shined in this episode and really showed what a wonderful person she is. Thanks for having such a range of guests. I learned so much from this.
Abby’s explanation about how her mind works is amazing and educational. Tay and Taylor your kindness towards Abby and her mother was magical. ❤
This is the first podcast of The Squeeze that I’ve seen. I saw that Abby was going to be on. I then had the podcast pop up and I clicked right away. This was beautiful to watch you all. Abby is incredible and so is her mom! Tay and Taylor, thank you for showing such kindness to Abby and her mom and bringing awareness to Autism!
As a parent who has a child on the spectrum… this interview helped me understand so many things. Thank you ! Abbey and her mother are doing great !!
At 47, I was recently diagnosed with Level 1 Autism (formerly known as Asperger’s Syndrome) and ADHD. For me, the diagnosis brought a profound sense of relief rather than happiness Christine understandably mentions she’s confused by newly diagnosed adults on social media sometimes express. My entire life, I watched others easily manage tasks that always seemed far more challenging for me. The relief comes from finally realizing that it wasn't about failing to keep up-rather, it was like I had been treading water with a weight tied to my leg, while others swam effortlessly beside me. I suspect that many who express joy in their diagnosis aren’t celebrating the disorder itself but rather the validation of a lifelong struggle-finding a reason for the pain, confusion, and challenges they've faced, much like difficulties Christine experiences as a parent and caretaker.
…Christine said she felt like a failure as a mom but when she found she was struggling as a parent because Abbey was autistic she didn’t feel that way anymore. I felt like a failure as a human for 46 years but there’s a relief/joy in learning I’m not; I struggle because I’m autistic and have ADHD.
I completely agree. I am self diagnosed at 50 after two years of research. It took a while to realize why I was always different from my family and peers.
That’s what I see, relief and validation for all the struggles and finally letting go of “I must be crazy”
I was diagnosed at 31 and I couldn't say it better. I like to say that I always thought I was a weird person. But now I am a normal autistic person. I don't know if it makes sense to you but in my head it does :)
Completely bawling at your comment. 100% true
I'm a 32 year old woman with a son who was diagnosed at 23 months old. He's currently 2½. After getting my son's diagnosis, myself and my family are fairly certain that I also likely have autism, but I've yet to be tested or diagnosed. I'd just like to say this, to sort of reply to Abby's mom:
We're happy when we get the diagnosis because it opens doors. It explains behaviors we've had all our lives that we thought were just failings. It allows us access to therapies and resources that aren't available without the diagnosis.
Also, I'm forever grateful to everyone who creates opportunities like this to give autism a platform and representation. The more we show people the full spectrum of autism, the sooner we can bring about acceptance and understanding. My son has been so, so lucky to receive his diagnosis so young, and receive services to help him, all before his second birthday even passed. So many other people are not as lucky, and they go through life struggling or feeling left out, frustrated, "weird", etc. I don't wish that on anyone and I pray someday, the whole wonderful, colorful spectrum of humanity is seen, understood, and accepted.
Bro I didn’t even REALIZE that Taylor Lautner was over there, that’s how magnetic Abbey is.
Same
Both Taylor lautners
same😭
This is *hands down* the best interview. From the questions, the inclusion, hearing from Abby’s mom…. I’m fans of the Lautners! Subscribed. ❤
Abbey is SO articulate! She speaks so eloquently and describes her mindset with elegance and grace... She will continue to do great things
I cried watching this episode. As someone who has a child with autism and brothers on the spectrum, it means so much seeing this inclusivity on such a wonderful platform. Taylor and Tay- thank you for being the wonderful people you are! ❤
I think I misjudged abbeys mom. This was the first time I've really gotten to see her express herself in a more long form format and she's wonderful and communicates in such a lovely way about her experiences and knowledge on autism. I love how she allows Abbey to express her ideas herself and she genuinely seems to be here as an advocate and educator instead of just a fake seeker. Great interview!
I love how Abby ask questions and pays attention.
Abbey is so lucky to have had such an early diagnosis as a girl, and a supportive family! Im a caregiver and it makes me so emotional seeing what an early diagnosis and supportive upbringing can do for someone on the spectrum, not everyone is so lucky.
This was so eye opening to me. Thanks for having Abbey and her Mom on your show. My son is 21 and was diagnosed as being on the spectrum just a year ago. Outwardly he doesn’t display so much, but inwardly he’s in turmoil. Abby’s Mom articulated so well that there are different forms of autism. I wish I’d had my son in therapy years ago. We’re getting a late start but now I feel like there is hope. As every Mom, I want my son to have peace with himself and to learn more about the way his brain works and get the tools to lead a fulfilling life in our world.
i got diagnosed at 17 and i genuinely believe it was the best thing that happened to me and saved my life. it was refreshing being able to finally put on a label to everything i’ve felt my whole life but never understood.
I'm a mom to an autistic little girl, and I always love seeing Abbey and her mom, and hearing what they have to say. ❤️
Thank you for showing that people can treat kindly and have conversations with people with autism ❤ my son is autistic and this is amazing!!!
I was so relieved and happy by my diagnosis because I finally had the understanding for why I am the way I am, and it deeply helped me understand myself and how I interact with the world around me. Getting diagnosed is not always an earth shattering experience, for me it opened my worldview!
Thank you so much for this episode! I've got AuDHD (Autism & ADHD) it wasn't until I was in my 20s that I found out even though I grew up hearing how I probably had Autism. Mine is considered more high functioning but I get overstimulated easily and go through periods where words just won't come out so I taught myself how to sign! Def related to music, that's how I learned when I was young things like my address and other information, my aunt would turn it into songs and walk around with me singing it until I memorized it.
I am really glad that Abbey has such a wonderful and understanding mother! Christine did such a great job of explaining things. When I present outside, it may seem like I am not AuDHD but internally its a whole mess.
That present at the end was so precious! Knitting helps a lot, for Abbey my advice to make the blanket is to either get baby blanket yarn and size 15mm needles so it comes out thick and fluffy, there's also some you can knit with your arms...or if all of that feels like too much, one of the tricks I've learned is to make a bunch of scarves the same size then sew them together and it's not as intimidating!
I am writing this through tears. This is one of the most beautiful conversations I have witnessed. The love in that room is infectious. So beautiful to see the love and respect! 💗
Rushed to watch this! My 5 year old daughter was diagnosed with autism last year. She uses gestalt language and speaks in memories like Abbey, and the only way that I was able to learn about that was from Abbey through TikTok!!
Love On the Spectrum is one of the best shows I have watched on Netflix and Abbey is one of my favourites. She is just the sweetest and prettiest. Thank you for inviting them, this is my first time watching your show as well.
As someone with a disability, I appreciate how articulate and educated Abbey’s mom is. She is amazing. She knows her child and is always learning and supporting her. I love this❤️
Thank you so so much tae and Taylor as a person who has a learning disability and friends who have autism thank you so much for being so supportive and kind . Not everyone is kind and open to us all with special needs.
As a mom of a child on the spectrum (2yrs old) and just getting started on this journey… I agree with Abby’s mom. As happy as I was to know I wasn’t crazy that something wasn’t right with my child.. I was devastated hearing that diagnosis. I knew my life was about to change & I had no idea what his life would look like. I am so grateful to have as many resources as we do now
Never tuned in before. Came just for Abbie! She’s a treasure. 💕
I can see how Christine has tried so hard to be the most hands on and advocate for Abbey to get the skills and tools needed to excel in the world. I loved that she brought it back to Abbey and all the work Abbey has put forward. Christine knows that her effort would be in vain if it wasn't for her daughter's drive to accept the help and be on board to do the different therapies and opportunities over the years. Christine is a true example of being an advocate for your kid but also following the kids lead. Great episode!
She should be an inspiration to all mothers
It explain to abbyes mom why it was a happy time for me getting diagnosed. Im a 22 year old female and was just diagnosed last year. It was an extremely stressful and overwhelming time aswell. And caused family issues since my mom always thought my behaviours were normal cause she does them too (idk if its from her adhd or if she is also on the spectrum). But i had faced soooo many issues growing up and never feeling like the other kids and always thinking something was wrong with me and struggling with communication and school, but being smart but failing classes, being talkitive but getting misunderstood. so to find out what it was and that its not something wrong with me and its just different has been so so validating.
I think given how young abbey was it was prolly so different for you (worrying about what the rest of her life will be like). Where as as an adult whos had a lot of struggles and has been seen as different their whole life, its more a sense or relief.
Also ive been crocheting making plushies this year i bet abbey will love it!!!!
yes thankyou so much for also feeling this way!
i feel the same as you and i was gonna say it too! i wasn’t happy that im autistic necessarily but i was so glad to finally know why i felt different. When I was a kid i literally felt like i was an alien among the other kids and genuinely thought there was something seriously wrong with me. when i finally got diagnosed at 19, i was just thrilled to know that i’m still a normal human just with a brain wired differently and finally knew how to get supports and support myself
@@kais.dollhouse thank you sm for sharing your experience! Its rly comforting to hear from others who have been through similar things🥰💖
Ran here to watch first thing this morning!! My 3.5 year old daughter reminds me so much of Abbey; you are such an inspiration and give me such huge hope for her future. She loves lion king and singing too💐
such a wholesome episode😭Abbey saying Taylor was a great guy in the end was sooo cute🩷😇🙏🏻
Christine is so freaking smart and loving and genuine i love her so much! She is an amazing mother
Thank you so much Abbey and your mum for sharing your story. My son has autism spectrum disorder and is 4 years old and i always worry for what his future will look like. He also is a gestalt language processor and uses echolalia, he also sings all day long but does not verbally communicate with us, this was so validating as a parent and really helped me understand his world a little better. He is a clever boy with numbers and words in books. This will be helpful for so many people, what amazing people Abbey and her mum are, this was really enjoyable to watch ❤
I relate a lot to Abbey’s mum, as a parent of a high support needs son who has a lot of verbal communication difficulties. But as someone who has struggled with feeling on the outside my whole life and wondering what was wrong with me, I was excited to have my suspicions confirmed and getting a diagnosis. TikTok didn’t exist when I put the pieces together, but RUclips helped me work it out. It is a big diagnosis and I have complicated feelings about it, but it was a relief to know that I’m not just broken and wrong. I’m not just this awful rude person. I hope Abbeys mum will get to understand the other side of the experience and why it’s a relief to get that diagnosis. in fact it was also a relief when my son was diagnosed, I already knew he was autistic but he couldn’t receive the help he needed without the diagnosis. I definitely understand feeling as though some people are victimising themselves with self diagnosis on very limited criteria, but I also hope that if more and more people are being diagnosed, accommodations will become more common.
I was diagnosed with ADHD in February. And when Abby described how her brain works, I understood what she meant.
I’ve been watching her since Love on The Spectrum and it’s been amazing watching her grow. ❤️ she’s a beautiful person. You two were such great hosts, super accommodating to Abby and very respectful. I’d love to have more people from Love On The Spectrum in the future!
I could have listened to them for way more than an hour.
I just got my official autism diagnosis a few days ago and I’m so happy to see people like me being treated so nicely, also having written out questions is a great idea for some autistic guests as it helps them with communication skills and feeling less anxious ❤
Listening to how Abby presented when she was little brought tears to my eyes, I was literally the exact same. I remember such visceral fear and upset, and frustration at not being able to articulate why, “I’m not being difficult on purpose! I’m sorry! I’m sorry, I promise!”
I’m 21 now and only just being diagnosed. It’s so interesting seeing how women/afab people present so vastly, and how so many slipped through the cracks for so long. Beautiful episode, thank you guys for having Abby and her mother on! It’s so important that we talk about these things if not just for learning but a sense of community also.
I didn't know about these interviewers until I saw a short about it. They are fantastic and respectful. Many people infantilize people with autism kind of like they do with the elderly but these people were just respectful and spoke adult to adult and I really loved that. Also I hate that the DSM changed autism labels because now it's more confusing and I think it was much more clear before.
oh boy you don't know what abbey's mom said about high support needs autistic people do you
Thank you guys so much for doing this episode 🥹 as the mother of a son with a neurodevelopmental syndrome, listening to her mother speak about her experience made me feel less alone in this journey. And listening to Abbey speak makes me hopeful that one day my non verbal son will be able to tell me about his experience. Love you guys so much!
I love this episode so much! Abbey and Christine are so inspirational and are moving mountains with the awareness around autism and it is beautiful to witness!
This made my day! My husband and I love Love of the Spectrum, especially being that our 5 year old is autistic. That show truly warmed our hearts and I thank you for having Abbey and her incredible mother on your podcast. You guys were so respectful and engaging with Abbey. The amount of awareness and acceptance happening for those on the spectrum gives me so much hope for our son’s future! He’s amazing 🫶🏻
I could listen to abbey all day she’s so beautiful inside out and how smart she is. Also would like to say how sweet Taylor and tae are with who ever are on there show. Love you! 💜🥰
This make me happy as someone who has disability watching them accommodate her and letting her talk even if it tangent was amazing. I wish more people were like Tay and Taylor.
Wow!!! My son Ben was diagnosed Aspergers when he was 2 1/2 ! Abbey is the only other child that was diagnosed at such a young age that I heard of. I had such a fight with my parents and in laws pertaining to having my son tested and diagnosed and treatment but I knew my child. I knew my son was different. I raised my son to understand he does not have a disability but he does have a different ability. I envy you all!!! Shine girl! To
I have never watched the squeeze podcast before. I saw that abbey was going to be on so I decided to watch. I am now a fan of you both. You earned a new subscriber.
Thank you for having Abbey on the podcast. My daughter is also named Abbey. Spelled A-b-b-e-y as well. She is also autistic but cannot speak. I learned a lot about how Abbey’s mind works from the perspective of A autistic person. Loved her on love on the spectrum! ❤🧩
I loved this so much!! I already love your style of interviewing, but the way you guys talked to both Abbey and her mom was amazing. I'm so happy you got to interview them 💛
My daughter is 12 yrs old non verbal but so smart. This is a great podcast. Love you Abbey!
This mom is my hero. I am currently struggling with my son who is on the spectrum and it is like this mom is seeing me. This mom is seeing what I needed to hear and what my son is maybe struggling with. Thank you Taylor and Taylor for doing this podcast!!
i absolutely adore abbey and her communication, knowledge and wisdom. she captivated me when i saw her show ❤️❤️
I love this! My almost two year old is in the middle of a diagnosis. It’s been so hard but seeing Abby doing so well gives me hope
I hope the process goes well for you. I’m autistic and it took decades for me to realize why I am the way I am. Back in the 70’s there was no formal process for diagnosing autism. I just lived with no friends for years, always reading, and not learning how to socialize well. I was a kid that had these isolating experiences that my parents had no explanation for. They brought me to doctors, had speech therapy, kept to myself, been bullied, etc. it wasn’t until a few years ago that autism made itself known to me. I did my research and finally realized why I am the way I am. I relate to Abby fairly well.
I love Christine! The level of compassion and understanding is so inspiring. She seems to have navigated this situation expertly.
Abbey is an amazing person and she is blessed to have such a loving and supportive mother ❤
My son has autism and I love seeing how people with autism bring so much joy to new people they meet with their blunt, random, funny comments. “Speaking of anxiety Piglet has anxiety!”
Taylor and girl tay were tickled by abbey’s comments lol
I got professionally diagnosed with HFA and I'm happy I got the diagnosis because it explains to all my family that I'm not just wierd
as someone who wasn’t diagnosed till 21, the reason i cried because i was so happy was because for 21 years of my life i didnt understand myself, i didnt understand why people didn’t understand me! i was navigating a world which didnt make any sense, i was not seen as valid because i didnt have an answer to why i was the way i am, i normally love abby’s mum but honestly this really hurt me and i had to stop watching, and i get its been “hard” for you as a parent but please don’t make us feel worse for how our disability affects you, it’s exhausting living with it 24/7
Things can be hard for two people at once. You shouldn't invalidate or deny other people's experiences/emotions just because they make you feel uncomfortable
One of the most moving Podcasts I've seen. I loved this.
I love how educational this video is. As an autistic person with medium support needs a lot went unnoticed since I was hyperverbal. Great job you all!
Wow I can so identify with the waking up at 2am and not going back to sleep. My son would wake up as if it the start of the day, and would not go back to sleep. This happened for months on end. We nearly lost our minds. Also my son also put every single thing in his mouth. He has a dual diagnosis of Down syndrome and autism. He is 6 and non verbal, so seeing Abbey gives much hope for the future. I can fully understand the amount of work her mother has put in. It takes over your entire life. My son is also obsessed with music…
Hands down THE BEST episode you've ever had ❤
As an occupational therapist, I love how they talk about the field!
Abbey is so intuitive..She connects with everything…
This was awesome! I absolutely LOVE Abbie. They are both such genuine, kind hearted people. I love that abbys mom is very respectful, making sure it's okay with Abby if she answers the question. Instead of trying to speak for her. We need more people like them in this world. ♥️♥️
This was a fabulous episode. My favorite so far! So much compassion and grace. Very informative and Abby is amazing and her mom is so blessed.
This was so special! My 2.5yo is a Gestalt Language processor and Abbey gives me hope my baby will also be conversational 🩷
Getting a diagnosis is a great day because FINALLY you are able to explain to yourself and others why you are the way you are.
What a fabulous episode!! Dream list for sure!! Thanks so much for this! Abbey and Mom, amazing interview!! ❤
Christine is the best mom!! What an amazing, supportive, and loving mother! I absolutely adore her!
I'm mum to an 11 year old daughter diagnosed with ASD with a profound PDA profile, currently going through the ADHD diagnosis. She was originally diagnosed at 3 with Aspergers then more recently it has been updated. She talked very early, loves books, way ahead of her peers but struggles with processing information, sensory issues mostly with sound & she thrives on echolalia. Her PDA is driven by extreme anxiety levels so typical autism support strategies don't work with PDA children. She has full time support at a mainstream secondary school (just started this week) and is at the top of her year. She's very smart, but accessing the typical education system is difficult, and I've fought to get her the support she needs to nurture her ability. Her ambition is to get into drama & music & acting. She plays electric guitar and has a beautiful singing voice. This podcast is amazing!
electric guitar at 11?! that’s so awesome!!!
Abbey is the BEST!! Thank you for giving her another platform to share her story. 😊
Thank you for having them on your podcast. Abbey and Christine are very inspiring for someone like me who has a young autistic daughter
being a BCBA myself, watching this makes me wanna cry the happiest of tears. this mom is a true gem for how she works with and treats her daughter🥰
I 100% agree with Abby’s mum about the ‘being happy about the diagnosis’. I’m a high functioning 22 year old and I only got diagnosed last year and getting that diagnosis was one of the hardest things I received, yes in the long run I’m happy because it helps other people to understand me more, but my immediate reaction was mourning the life I could have had if I was diagnosed sooner and some anger (I guess is a strong word but irritation doesn’t work either) towards my parents for not realising earlier especially when I was younger as i was way more visible. I never use the word happy when people ask me if I’m happy I got diagnosed, it just makes my daily life easier because I have a word to explain my behaviours but I’m not happy because I’d rather not be on the spectrum if that makes any sense? Anyways love this episode 💓 30:04
Abbey has come such a long way!! So inspiring
Oh my goodness!! I am truly sooo happy to see Abbey and her mom on your show! Abbey and her Mom Christine are very informative. I appreciate this opportunity you guys took to understand both of their perspectives on a deeper level. Wonderful! this podcast makes me so happy! 🥰☺
I am 34 year old woman who recently (this past year ) got diagnosed with with autism, inattentive ADHD, generalized anxiety and social anxiety. Social media has been a significant influence that led me to getting an assessment done by my psychiatrist. I'm happy because I now understand why I've had so many struggles in my life. My diagnosis has allowed me to have grace and acceptance towards my differences. I am grateful for the information and awareness that continues to grow because it is helping me learn how to accommodate and properly care for myself. My 6 year old son is also high functioning autistic and im grateful because the more I learn about my autistic self, the better I can understand my autistic son and his needs. 😇
Love her !!! And love that her mom is literally just along for the ride and does not speak for abby !! ❤❤❤
This just made my day.. so pure , honest and wholesome ❤❤❤
You guys are awesome. This pod is so genuine & special.
Y'all we found an actor who is doing good things with their platform.
Abbey’s interjections are always so well timed with my own thoughts it’s great. This was a very enjoyable interview
I love how respectful Abby‘s mom speaks on the perception of autism as a whole, especially the areas that she is not familiar with, I think it is so important to create a connection where there’s a divide between parents of children with autism and individual people with autism if that makes sense. I discovered I was autistic by watching the show as a confirmed 1 million things for me and allowed me to see high masking, hyper verbal, anxious women and recognize myself in them. I grew up thinking that there was something wrong with me and now I understand I’m just different and it can be celebrated and there is so much pain that I think every parent of a child with autism experiences and I think if we were able to all come together in all of our experiences and understand that all of this is autism, all of it is important no matter what our differences are we have this common ground which we need to support each other and make those changes which she talks about in the real world. This was such an awesome podcast and I’m excited to hear more from both of them and y’all! Thank you for creating this space
Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for having Abby and her mom, Christine, on the show to share their autism journey. My 5 year old son is "high functioning" level 1, his mind seems to work a lot like Abby's, and seeing this just brings me so much happiness and hope. Thank you for bringing awareness. Abby is the sweetest!
By far one of the best guests to have on! 💜
It’s really good for Abby’s mum to acknowledge the misconceptions about autism. I was diagnosed as an adult and remember vividly the first time the idea was brought up. I was speaking to a doctor in a second language, and the only word I took from the conversation in the end was “autism.” After the fact, I reacted with anger. I clearly had my own misconceptions about autism, and it took me six months to get my mind around the idea of pursuing a diagnosis. Society has a thousand ideas about what autism is, and it often resorts to the extremes of high-needs people who are unable to communicate, or the opposite end, where people are socially awkward but often have pronounced ability, like the Rain Man character. But the majority of autistic people are in the middle. I had a conventional education. It was emotionally exhausting. But by being entirely integrated with other children, it probably developed my communication and social skills enough to function like anyone else (at least in limited bursts). But autism is a part of every second of every day of my life. I have difficulty with organising things that the average person probably takes for granted. One wrong idea about autistic people that I cannot say enough is on empathy. There’s this falsehood that autistic people lack empathy. That they are cold and don’t understand the feelings of others. This couldn’t be further from the truth. There are two aspects to empathy. There’s experiencing the feeling, and there’s an ability to communicate it. Many autistic people struggle to articulate their feelings. That doesn’t mean that they don’t feel them. I’m a qualified person-centred counsellor. A therapist. I couldn’t do this work if I didn’t feel empathy. I am lucky to have the communication skills to demonstrate my feeling. Some aren’t that lucky. But to make a broad generalization like that can be incredibly damaging.
More power to people that advocate for autistic people! The more people talk about it, the more normalized autistic people will be in society, and the more progress everybody can make.
i know that its because i relate to a whole lot of what abby talks about, but can i just say that i could listen to you guys talk forever and ever. so much knowledge just went into my brain and i enjoyed every single second of this podcast
As an autistic girl I am always happy to see such positive representation online. Thank you for this episode. ♡