Originally published May 28, 2017, on Jepsonfiles.com Now that school is over, I am going to start writing every day so I hope that you enjoy the increased volume of blog posts. School was very important but now I plan on focusing all my energy on my communication skills. Like I said in my previous post, I want to be a missionary and go to college but I need to be a better communicator to be able to do that.  Dad and mom have challenged me to write for 30 minutes every day.  I think that is a great start and I plan on doing that. Maybe I will start…

Originally published May 16, 2016, on Jepsonfiles.com I am always wondering why autism always leaves such a bad impression on people. My dad and mom say that it is because people just don’t understand. But I think it is because people are afraid that we are going to do something to make them uncomfortable. I really don’t ever try to make people uncomfortable around me, but my behavior sometimes does make them feel that way. I am sad that this is the case. I wish that it wasn’t but I’m not sure how to control myself entirely yet. I am trying to do better though every day. What I hope…

Originally published May 16, 2016, on Jepsonfiles.com Stimming is the short way to say self-stimulatory behavior. In autism terms, it is the repetitive behaviors that we do that seems odd or unusual to the rest of the world. My stims include making loud noises or saying letters in funny ways or pacing back and forth. I also have compulsive behaviors like needing to go through a particular pattern when I leave a room or needing to be sure that doors are closed, especially to refrigerators and freezers. I really can’t explain why I need to do these things. I just know that if I don’t do them, I get really…

Originally published April 23, 2016, on Jepsonfiles.com I am not much of a theater goer but I can imagine that people who enjoy that sort of thing would like a play about someone who worries about what other people think of them.  People with autism think about that, too, but we can’t dwell on it or we would be depressed all of the time.  I’m so glad that the people that I care about the most love me for who I am.  I can’t imagine living your life always trying to please everyone else.  Shouldn’t we all be more accepting of each other so that everyone feels loved?  I think…

Originally published April 23, 2016, on Jepsonfiles.com I often think that people are pretty clueless about autism.  My suspicion was proven true again, recently.  Without going into detail, there was a situation at school when an adult said some things about our class of special needs kids that was hurtful and petty.  Why do people assume that we can’t understand what is being said around us?  Many, many times, learned men and women try to show that they are smart and use language that is flowery and impressive, but inside, they are simple and dense.  Truth is, the people with autism that can speak, all frequently talk about helping others. …

Originally published April 16, 2016, on Jepsonfiles.com A while ago, my mom and dad read this book to me.  I don’t remember most of it but I do remember the feeling that I had while they read it.  I felt like running and shouting because a boy and a book became real to me.  I understood a lot about what he was saying about how colors helped him understand the world around him better.  My own experience has been different.  I don’t see colors but after reading the book, I realized that numbers and letters do the same thing for me.  ABC magnets became like a way for me to…

Originally published April 11, 2016, on Jepsonfiles.com I am always talking but am about as nonverbal as my brother Austin.  That is because the things that come out of my mouth are just the nonsense that I have in my brain.  About 2 years ago, my mom took me to Soma at HALO and she taught me how to type on a letter board.  It was an amazing experience and now because I can communicate, I know that I have a future.  I don’t know how she does it, but she just expects you to know the answer.  I guess it just gives us confidence that we can do it. …

Originally published April 6, 2016, on Jepsonfiles.com My mom and dad understand me like no one else.  Just like my mom once said, “Normal is overrated.”  I love this saying because it means that extraordinary things come out of otherwise normal people.  I think now that my most important work and passion is to be very friendly to the people who think that they don’t have any love in their life.  Maybe all that those people need is more kindness.  Maybe all they need is more love and understanding and support.  Maybe all they need is more people to believe in them and in their potential.  Love changes everything and…

Originally published March 26, 2016, on Jepsonfiles.com My next topic is a challenging one, but I am ready to tackle it. My favorite thing in the world is hanging out with my dad. Monday last week, it was my birthday. My birthday present was a new mountain bike. All I wanted to do on my birthday was to go on a ride with my dad and he agreed. He came and picked me up from school and we drove up to the mountains. We got on our bikes and began to ride. Because it was a new bike, it took a little to get used to it but I soon…