Autism Health

03/11/2026

Happy news! We're starting Chapter 2: Seeing the Road Ahead - Health and Vision First today.

Driving is a full-body activity. You need strength, coordination, flexibility, and stamina to control the pedals, turn the wheel, and respond quickly in unpredictable situations. Simple health considerations—like managing sleep difficulties, brain fog, or constipation and acid reflux—can make a world of difference. Link is in the comments!

03/10/2026

Wrapping up Chapter 1 of Behind the Wheel with Autism. Link is in the comments!

03/02/2026

A new companion article is up on the general blog.

Driving is about more than rules of the road—it’s about reading the road.

When we drive, we’re constantly asking:
What is that pedestrian about to do?
Will that driver change lanes?
Did they see me?

That ability to understand what others might be thinking or planning—often called theory of mind—is a powerful (and often overlooked) driving skill.

For autistic teens and adults, strengthening this skill can make driving feel more predictable, less stressful, and far more empowering. And the best part? It’s something we can actively build with the right strategies and practice.

In my latest blog, I share:
What theory of mind really means in everyday life
Why it’s essential for safe, confident driving
Practical ways to strengthen it step by step

Link is in the comments.

02/28/2026

The latest installment of Behind the Wheel with Autism: Removing Barriers to Driving for Autistic Teens and Adults is live!

This week, we’re looking at driving barriers through the eyes of occupational and physical therapists—and how their expertise can make a huge difference for autistic teens and adults learning to drive. From coordination and motor planning to sensory challenges and working memory, these pros have strategies that can turn frustration into confidence behind the wheel.

As always, I’ve included links to companion articles and actionable steps you can try at home to support your learner (or yourself!) on the road.

If you’ve ever wondered how therapy supports driving readiness—or how to set yourself or your learner up for success—this piece is for you!

👉 Link is in the comments.

Let’s make driving a smoother, safer, and more achievable journey for everyone on the spectrum! 💙

02/21/2026

Chapter 1 just got an update 💛

We’re diving deeper into the real-life barriers to driving — this time through the eyes of occupational and physical therapists who work with autistic teens and adults every day.

Part 1 is short and super readable: Who are these therapists, and why do they matter for your driving journey?

And on Monday… Part 2 drops — and it’s a big one. Tons of companion resources and practical, at-home steps you can actually start using.

If driving independence is on your mind (for you or someone you love), you’ll want to read this. Click through and join us on the journey

We are deep into Chapter 1 Barriers to Driving. I’m exploring the topic from all viewpoints (we’ve heard from autistic teens and adults, their families, and driving instructors) and today I’d like to weigh in on what occupational and physical therapists observe in the autistic clients they wor...

02/13/2026

We're continuing to work our way through Chapter 1 Perceived Barriers to Driving, and we're hearing from different viewpoints. We've listened to autistic teens and adults, their parents, and now we're asking driving instructors what they see in their autistic students. Blog Post #6 is up with two companion articles! Links are in the comments.

02/03/2026

Check out the new blog post #5, plus it has links to five more companion articles! Link is in the comments.

01/30/2026

New blog posts up! Links are in the comments.

01/28/2026

I’m excited to invite you along as I spend the next 6–12 months blogging my newest book:
Behind the Wheel with Autism
Identifying and removing barriers to driving for autistic teens and adults

Learning to drive can feel overwhelming—particularly when systems, environments, and instruction aren’t designed with autistic teens and adults in mind. Behind the Wheel with Autism was created to change that.

This blog is all about breaking down systemic and personal barriers to driving:
• building confidence behind the wheel
• addressing co-occurring health factors that affect focus and clarity
• understanding how sensory needs, executive functioning, vision differences, coordination, anxiety, medications, and other factors can impact the driving experience
• supporting independence at your pace

Whether you’re an autistic teen or adult thinking about driving, a parent or caregiver looking for guidance, or an educator wanting better tools, this space is for you. Including autistic voices and experiences, consulting the latest research, and drawing upon my experience as an autism mom, clinician, speaker and author, we’ll explore actionable steps, have honest conversations, and share encouragement—without pressure or judgment.

Each post will be a piece of the book in progress: honest, accessible, and grounded in the belief that driving should be a choice, not an impossible hurdle.

If you care about independence, access, and opening doors to mobility, I’d love for you to join me—follow along as we turn this blog into a book together—and open the road to more possibilities.

(Link in the first comment)

12/16/2025

Feeling overwhelmed? Don't know where to start? CHAT WITH THE AUTHOR may be just the thing!
Booking now for January 2026!
https://janetlintala.com/chat-with-the-author/

08/13/2025

01/24/2025

Thoughts? I thought it was simply a heartfelt gesture.

The symptoms of autism spectrum disorder are widely misunderstood. Here's what experts and advocates want you to know.