Episode 11: Scaffolding, Doom Piles, and the Autistic Art of Doing It Your Own Damn Way

Matt and Erin are back for Part 2 of the identity conversation — diving straight into how to autistify your life so you can function in a world that was definitely not built with you in mind. From dismantling bad assessment practices to designing LEGO-level organizational systems, we get into the nitty-gritty of scaffolding your environment, your routines, and your relationships.

We cover:

• Why self-identification is valid, hard-earned, and not “everyone’s a little autistic”

• The RAADS-R, the CAT-Q, and the autistic joy of writing a dissertation-length personal history

• How allistic assessors dismiss self-reports — especially from women — and why that’s ableism in action

• The difference between recognition and recall (and why “you did it yesterday” is not a helpful reminder)

• Scaffolding as a survival tool: operational definitions, visual examples, step-by-step coaching

• The dopamine hit of a perfectly labeled LEGO bin system

• Why habits don’t stick, but systems and routines can save your sanity

Also: Cybertrucks vs. DeLoreans, Dan Harmon’s shelved Lego Batman 2, diesel locomotive small talk, and the Professor X method of finding every autistic in a three-mile radius.