My favorite book!

There are several flavor-free toothpastes available (on Amazon US, at least) if it’s the taste that’s irritating. I can’t vouch for their texture or effectiveness, but I’ve known several flavor-sensitive people who have found success with being able to use them.

Yes! Interoception is considered the 8th sensory system and ties in with the sensory processing differences common in autism. An occupational therapist familiar with interoception can help. Kelly Mahler has some good resources (and a whole curriculum for sale, but look for the free stuff).

My state (republican trifecta) requires a signature at the polling place that matches your voter registration card or photo ID card. I assume they can audit these if there’s a question.

Most people think specifically of photo ID when they see this. In Oklahoma (republican trifecta), you have options, including your voter registration card. I’m assuming there are variations in other states, as well. https://oklahoma.gov/elections/voters/proof-of-identity.html

If you’re on the constipation side, try adding magnesium supplements.

Sad I can only upvote this once!

This. My college psych professor said, “It’s only a disorder if it interferes with your daily life.”

I came here for this.

My mother once handed me the manual to a dishwasher to prove that I was loading mine “wrong.” Turns out I was doing it the way the manual recommended. She had never actually opened said manual.

If the scar is new, massaging it frequently (using some type of serum or oil to reduce friction) can help reduce the size and how much it is raised.

If it’s more than a year post-injury, only a plastic surgeon could help.

(Info from brief training on scar management in grad school and doctor’s advice after having stitches.)

I’m sorry you went through that!

This was some informal “research” I did with my family a friends a few years ago. It seems to be consistent with the published research I’ve found about pencil grasp variation.

I know all of these people, some of them have autism or other neurological differences, and there was no correlation between pencil grasps and neurological differences.

Occupational therapist here. About 80% of people use a tripod (which is considered the “right” way to hold a pencil) or quadropod grasp. A tripod fingertip grasp is technically the “best” because it makes the most efficient use of the musculature of the hand. When you hold a pencil with the tips of your first two fingers opposite the tip of your thumb, this uses the smallest and fewest muscles to control the movement of the pencil. The closer the pencil moves to the base of your fingers, the more and larger muscles you will need to use to move it around, which leads to fatigue and, sometimes, pain with extended writing.

There’s the technical side. Now for the functional reality.

First, 20% of people DON’T use a tripod grasp, and this is not a sign of neurological differences. It’s true there is a correlation between autism and difficulty with motor planning, but one does not equal the other.

Second, since our society does not actually require extensive handwritten text anymore, this skill is just not as vital as it once was. Lots of (especially older) teachers and OT colleagues may disagree with me, but occupational therapists are supposed to focus on a person’s ability to functionally participate in work, play, and self-care, not attempt to make them do things “the right way.”

Third, if your pencil grasp IS causing you pain or excess fatigue because of the demands of your job, school, or hobbies, occupational therapy can help. We do this by teaching a different pencil grasp (which OP has tried) or modifying the task (different types of writing tools/pencil grips, positioning the paper on a slanted surface, typing, or even voice-to-text).

This looks like an email my boomer dad would forward to everyone he knows.