Ålesund, July 1st 2025, In everyday conversation, we often treat predictability and previsibility as if they mean the same thing. But when we take a closer look—especially through the lens of psychology and neurodiversity—we find that this small linguistic difference can reflect much deeper realities, particularly for individuals on the autism spectrum. Today, we have faced a situation that raised the need to reflect on these two words and what they mean for us, atypical parents. Our Matias had to go to the dentist. A little hole was found in his teeth, and how do we make him cooperate? Is it just to ask him to open his mouth and wait for whatever is coming? It would be amazing if it were that easy, but no. He refused, cried, was frustrated, and brought us along the same path, because all we wanted was for him to be ok and to not feel pain. I had shown him pictures, made a social story in his Grid communication app, but it was not enou...
Is there anything more exciting than watching a child take their first steps? Or hearing them excitedly tell you about their day at school? Children typically start recounting past events around three—some a little earlier, some a little later. Every milestone they reach fills us with a sense of accomplishment and reassurance that things are on the right track. For children with autism, these milestones can look quite different. Sometimes, progress moves forward, other times, it stabilizes, and occasionally, small steps backward might occur. What truly matters is never giving up—continuing to provide support, believing in the process, and celebrating each step, no matter how small they are. Have faith, stay patient, and cherish every bit of progress.