My ASD Child

The Car Ride Home: A Familiar Story You pick your teenager up from school and can tell instantly that something’s off. Their backpack is half-zipped, their jaw is tight, and you get the one-word answers: “How was your day?” “Fine.” You ask about homework. They snap, “I don’t know!” A few hours later, they’re in meltdown—yelling about a group project, refusing to do homework, or shutting down in their room under a blanket. From the outside, it can look like laziness, defiance, or overreaction. On the inside, though, your autistic teen may be carrying a full day’s worth of invisible stress : sensory overload, social confusion, fear of failure, and constant pressure to keep up. This chapter is about that load—and how you, as a parent, can help lighten it without sacrificing your teen’s growth. Why School Is Extra Hard for Autistic Teens 1. The Social Minefield Hallways, group projects, partner work, “turn and talk”—school is built on fast, intuitive social interaction. Autistic...

When your autistic teenager melts down—shouting, crying, shutting down, or lashing out—it can feel like the whole world is tilting on its axis. For parents, these moments often trigger fear, embarrassment, frustration, or guilt. You might find yourself thinking, “Why can’t I calm them down?” or “What did I do wrong?” The truth is, emotional outbursts and meltdowns are not about bad behavior or lack of discipline. They are a sign that your teen’s nervous system has reached overload. For an autistic person, the world can feel unpredictable, loud, confusing, and socially demanding. Every sound, light, and expectation can stack up until their internal balance tips over. This chapter will help you understand the difference between outbursts and meltdowns, explore what’s happening in your teen’s body and brain, and give you tools to manage and prevent crises while protecting everyone’s dignity. You’ll find practical scripts, checklists, and reflection exercises—plus a mini case study to s...

For many parents of autistic teenagers, technology and gaming are both a lifeline and a source of worry. Screens can offer structure, comfort, creativity, and connection—but they can also become battlegrounds of control, isolation, or obsession. Parents often ask, “Is my teen addicted to their device?” or “Should I limit their gaming time even if it helps them cope?” The truth is nuanced. Technology isn’t inherently harmful; it’s a tool—and like all tools, its impact depends on how it’s used, how it fits into daily routines, and whether it helps or hinders growth. In this chapter, we’ll explore how autistic teens engage with technology, what gaming provides emotionally and neurologically, and how to guide balance without constant conflict. You’ll find scripts, checklists, worksheets, and compassionate strategies to turn screens from stress points into supports for learning, creativity, and self-regulation. Understanding Why Technology Feels So Powerful for Autistic Teens 1. Predic...