Routines can be lifesaving when you’re autistic, and maddening when the world refuses to cooperate. I’ve spent the past decade studying cognition and behavior, and I also test what I write. Across several small, dated experiments in 2024–2025, I kept what reduced overwhelm and dropped what didn’t. Here’s a soft-spoken, evidence-aware guide to building an…
When people ask me about autism vs ADHD symptoms, they’re usually already doing quiet detective work on themselves or someone they love. I’ve been there with clients and in my own field notes, trying to tell sensory-driven shutdowns from attention-driven overwhelm. In this gentle guide, I’ll share what reliably separates autism from ADHD, where they…
As a psychologist who studies human communication, I’ve spent years observing how couples navigate autism relationship communication, where intention is loving, yet wires still cross. I write softly because the topic asks for it: both autistic and nonautistic partners deserve to feel seen rather than fixed. Below, I share research-backed ideas, everyday translations, and scripts…
I’ve spent years translating psychological science into plain language, and one pattern I keep seeing, both in data and in women’s stories, is how often autism in women goes undiagnosed. The picture we were taught to look for skews male, while many autistic women learn to “blend in.” In this piece, I’ll explain why autism…
I’m Dora. Homes should feel like a soft landing, not a maze of sensory hurdles. When I audit a space for an autism friendly home, I’m not aiming for “perfect.” I’m aiming for predictable, calming, and adjustable. Over the past few years, I’ve tested small, low-cost changes, dimmer switches, textured swaps, and visual boundaries, that…
When my brain starts to feel like every light is a spotlight and every sound is a fire alarm, I rely on a gentle, practiced set of steps I call my “calm-first” routine for sensory overload coping. I’ve tested these approaches in real settings, conference rooms, airports, and crowded cafes, and I’m sharing what’s worked…
When I was diagnosed with autism at 30, it felt like someone quietly slid the missing page into my life’s instruction manual. Not a dramatic twist, just a deep, steady click of recognition. In the weeks after, I replayed school hallways, office meetings, even friendships, with new captions. If you’re here because you were recently…
I’m Dora, a psychology researcher and writer. If you’ve just taken the RAADS-R test and your heart’s racing a little, you’re not alone. I remember opening my own results on June 17, 2025, after a week of sleep-deprived Googling, and feeling both seen and uncertain. The RAADS-R can be a useful mirror, especially for late-identified…
If you’re trying to decide between the AQ and the RAADS-R, you’re not alone. I’ve used both tools in my research and in my own self-reflection—most recently I completed the AQ on October 12, 2025, and the RAADS-R on October 15, 2025, to compare speed, depth, and practical usefulness. Below, I’ll walk you through a…
Hi, I’m Dora. When someone asks me, “What does my RAADS-R score mean?” I don’t rush to a label. I slow down. The RAADS-R (Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale–Revised) is a respected adult autism screening tool, not a diagnosis. It highlights patterns in social communication, sensory experience, and interests. In this guide, I’ll translate RAADS-R…
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