Will ADHD Dude Strategies Work for Kids and Teens with Autism?

I often get asked if the strategies I teach are effective for children with autism, or those with both ADHD and autism. The answer is yes, they are. This blog post explains why, despite my extensive background working with individuals on the autism spectrum, I don't specifically address autism in my videos.

My Background and Focus

I discuss my experience working with children with autism, from those with significant support needs to those with above-average cognitive abilities, emphasizing my focus on what I call "higher verbal autism"—individuals with functional language and average to above-average cognitive skills. I share my professional background, including my time at schools serving students with behavioral challenges, my specialized private therapy practice, and my Certified Autism Specialist credential. I even talk about a program I co-created, "Guy Stuff," for boys with higher verbal autism.

Why the Focus on ADHD?

So, if my strategies work, why don't I talk about autism more often? This post explains my 2018 shift to focus primarily on the often-neglected ADHD community and the challenges I encountered when running programs for boys with both ADHD and higher verbal autism.

• The ADHD community was often underserved and families frequently received misleading information after diagnosis.
• Boys with higher verbal autism sometimes had difficulty tolerating being in group settings with boys who had ADHD.

Navigating the Online Landscape

More importantly, I discuss the increasingly politicized online autism community and why I choose to avoid those discussions. My focus remains on helping kids, and I feel I can best do that by focusing on ADHD.

Want to learn more about my background and why I made this decision? Watch the full video on YouTube! And be sure to check out other helpful videos on the ADHD Dude YouTube channel for more strategies and support.