Autism Coach

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Autism Coach - your view?

Autism Coach - What is your view of them (if they exist)?

Can Autism / Asperger's be coached out of a person by a good coach?

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Epilepsy - There are no Epilepsy Coaches.

ADHD - There is a small, emerging industry called ADHD Coaching. This idea of coaching ADHD out of a person does not match the known fact that, at least for a few of those with ADHD, the right medicine (historically a central nervous system stimulant - alerting agent such as coffee, caffeine compounds, Ritalin, Dexedrine, Adderall and so on helps a little - not a cure).

Parkinson's - There are no Parkinson's Coaches.

Dyslexia - There are no Dyslexia Coaches.

Autism - Are there Autism Coaches?

Tourette- There are no Tourette Coaches.

Overweight - Obesity Coaches - There are Weight Reduction Coaches. The Weight reduction industry is big business in America. There are even TV shows which feature weight reduction themes/contests.

Why not? I had an exceptional friend in my 30s who coached me in a wonderful way towards improvement. I am currently mentoring a 13 year old the same way. Why not have it as a profession?

I think Aspies could be helped by coaching. A coach can make explicit the unspoken rules that so many have trouble with, and break down supposedly "simple" things into their actual component steps. Coaches can also give honest feedback on how you look/walk/act, and use tools like video to really show what other people perceive as being "off" about a person who is totally oblivious to how they appear.

If you Google "Asperger's life coach" there are already a few in existence. And the ordinary sort of life coaches who don't specialize in Asperger's can still offer help in the problem areas such as time management, nutrition, organization, and personal style that so many people post about here.

I've seen a few autism coaches around. I think there's a lot that can be done to alleviate the suffering that can come with autism. A coach can help facilitate that.

Coaching, in the ADHD realm, isn't about "coaching the ADHD out of you." ADHD is a life long condition as is Asperger Syndrome.

Coaching for ADHD is about mentoring in order to learn how to cope with a condition. Not to "get rid of it."

ADHD coaching is an emerging skill, and a highly recommended thing to do if one can afford it by many with ADHD. If you haven't seen the documentary "ADHD and Loving it?!" I highly recommend it.

Though there isn't much in the way of a counterpart for AS, it IS a topic that is being talked about a LOT lately, and I for one, have felt for quite a while it's a great idea.

Right now the problem with it is that there is still so much misunderstanding and lack of clarity about what AS really is. Too much debate and too many unresolved differences of opinion exist now for a cohesive community of thought on the topic.

That's pretty much why, IMHO, there isn't much out there yet.

BUT, because there are so many people bringing up the concept, there are quite a few efforts being made to do just what you're suggesting. Several professionals I know personally, and a LOT of people with AS have been talking about this.

Consider yourself one of them! And welcome to the club!

Talking about it is the first step toward things like this becoming a reality. KEEP ON TALKING!

Sooner or later, those who have the skills to pull something together will hear the chatter, and DO something about it.

There is a group in one of the state colleges where I live dedicated to this very concept, but only for students of the college. There are others as well, but all that I've see so far are like the college group, dedicated to a particular group of people associated with one institution or another.


Most are small local independent groups, and there definitely aren't enough of them!

There are quite a lot of people out there talking about the need for a nationwide (or even global) organization something like AA, but not a twelve step program per se. Loosely organized, as AA is, with a set of goals and strategies like AA, but with the end goal of members being better equipped to deal with their AS/Autism, as opposed to sobriety. A loose organization of mentors and sponsors, dedicated to helping others with AS.


I'm a strong proponent of the concept. A LOT of us NEED it!

How many coaches does it take to change a light bulb?

Only one, but the light bulb has to really want to change.

One thing about the ADHD coaching "industry" is that there's a tendency to minimize ADHD and present it as an "easily managed condition," when the truth is rather more complicated.

I actually coined the term when I created a website that is a product/information catalog with the same name about 12 years ago. My son was 6 years old and had been diagnosed with PDDNOS at age 3 1/2. We'd been working intensively with him through ABA, a variety of integrative therapies, GCFC diet, and supplements. My original concept was every parent is their child's autism coach, helping their child cross the finish line to a better life. It was not a job description. It shortly thereafter became a vague catch-all term used for professional services.

Autism Coach?

There's Autism competitions?