Autism Archives - Healthy Minds Philly®

The Importance of Autism Screening in Adulthood

Many of us have watched “Love on the Spectrum,” the Netflix show characterizing the dating journeys of autistic adults. The show was so popular and insightful, it encouraged many to wonder if the challenges they face in their own lives could be due to neurodivergence. But the question loomed: How would one even begin to find out and, if they are diagnosed, what would the next step be? Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex disorder characterized by differences in communication, social functioning, and behavior. Screening for ASD can help [...]

Janine Monico2023-04-05T13:37:08-04:00April 4th, 2023|Autism|

The World of Autism: Diagnosis Reveal

I remember it like it was an old sore and someone snatches off the scab! Thoughts of that day still pain me like it just happened. My gut was screaming. Something was not right despite my pediatrician saying everything will be ok – boys are slower than girls and he’ll talk when he’s ready. I thought: Who am I to question what I was being told? I mean; he is the doctor. I couldn’t sleep the night before the diagnosis reveal. My brain was in overdrive. I felt relieved because [...]

Janine Monico2025-03-07T13:32:25-05:00April 1st, 2022|Autism, Intellectual disAbility|

Living in a Puzzling World with Infinite Possibilities

Every day I find myself working to grow within an environment that’s hard to understand socially – an environment where people sometimes have a hard time getting along with others. That difficulty is where I find the inspiration and realization that there’s so much more out there for me to understand. That one step was where I think I needed to begin. Learning how to discover myself from youth to adulthood gave me some ideas on where I am both personally and for the rest of the autism community. To [...]

Janine Monico2023-04-04T15:24:08-04:00April 1st, 2022|Autism, Intellectual disAbility|

Autism Spectrum Disorder: Demystifying the Myth

Growing up in Nigeria, a sub- Sahara Africa country, I grew up with different myths and ideas of what a disability is and how people with disabilities should be treated. I knew they should not be isolated, segregated and not allowed to participate in normal life events. Children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, live a traumatic life because Nigerian society does not believe in intellectual disabilities that do not manifest physically, such a person who lives with Down syndrome or cerebral palsy. Parents face stigma on an everyday basis if [...]

Janine Monico2023-04-04T15:23:57-04:00August 27th, 2018|Autism, Awareness, Intellectual disAbility|