Outside Looking In: High-functioning autism from one mother's perspective

"Each family's journey with autism is as unique as a fingerprint."

Think about autism differently.

That's what Vivian M. Lumbard does. She's a mom to teenage twins with high-functioning autism challenges. As a retired air traffic controller, she is familiar with long-term and short-term goals, changing plans on a moment's notice, as well as being able to laugh when stressed. All of which comes in handy when raising a child with autism.

Autism awareness is on the rise. But what about autism understanding? Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) manifests differently for each individual. Yet stereotypes hinder understanding and impact our choices as parents and educators. Using examples from her family's life, she reframes common ASD stereotypes and competencies to highlight commonalities with the neurotypical world.

Vivian advocates an approach of loving, parenting and supporting the whole, unique child and offers a chapter of helpful tips based on her experiences. See how she applies those tips while staying at home during COVID-19.

Frank. Compassionate. Intimate. Sometimes humorous. Join her as she shares her family's journey.

As a retired air traffic controller, Vivian M. Lumbard is used to observing, compiling data and seeing patterns, as well as projecting what changes in those patterns-small or large-can mean to a desired outcome. So she views Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) just a bit differently than most, which helps with raising teenage twins with ASD challenges. She is happily married to John, and her family lives in a perpetually cluttered home in southwestern Pennsylvania. Her hobbies include genealogy, crochet and any other rabbit hole her interests beckon her to explore.