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That Shouldn't Happen: The Just World Fallacy and Autism

Everyday, we hear about tragedies, some that hit too close to home for comfort, and our reactions...

Heaviness: Euthanasia For Expediency

It's all over the internet now, the story of the twin brothers in Belgium who were deaf and going...

What's the Harm: When Reality and Wishful Thinking Clash

I'm digging around for posts people have written on what to say/what not to say to autistic people...

Facilitated Communication: Same As It Ever Was (Same As It Ever Was)

In the past couple years, I’ve written over a dozen articles examining facilitated communication...

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Kim WomblesRSS Feed of this column.

Instructor of English and psychology and mother to three on the autism spectrum.

Writer of the site countering.us (where most of these articles will have first appeared) and co-administrator

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Prayer Or Empathy: Which Is More Likely?

Prayer Or Empathy: Which Is More Likely?

Jun 27 2011 | comment(s)


The role of spirituality and religion in individuals' lives has been studied since the beginning of modern psychology. It's not been a consistent examination, nor always a useful one, but the desire to understand both why people believe in gods and how these religious beliefs can be adaptive and helpful in their lives is a relevant one, since over 70% of Americans profess religious beliefs.
Wired In And Then Some: Finding an Electronic Balance With Our Kids

Wired In And Then Some: Finding an Electronic Balance With Our Kids

Jun 26 2011 | comment(s)

 How many famlies have more electronic devices than people? It's not hard to be swimming in a digital sea in today's culture. Americans appear to worship the latest upgrade, willing to wait overnight in lines just to get the next version of an iphone or ipad. Finding balance in the digital age is incredibly difficult, and some families feel overwhelmed when it comes to finding ways to disconnect their children from their digital devices.

Holding Educators Accountable For Evidence-Based Practices: Facilitated Communication Isn't One

Holding Educators Accountable For Evidence-Based Practices: Facilitated Communication Isn't One

Jun 24 2011 | comment(s)

 By James Todd (in italics) and Kim Wombles
Peace in the Garden: Michael Shermer and Belief Systems

Peace in the Garden: Michael Shermer and Belief Systems

Jun 19 2011 | comment(s)

One of my favorite songs of all time is "In the Garden." I know Willie's not got the prettiest of voices, but I love his version best of all. He lives hard and the gravel in his voice lends a depth to the content of the song that others don't quite have.
Simon Baron-Cohen, Empathizing, Systemizing, And Wondering: What's My Q?

Simon Baron-Cohen, Empathizing, Systemizing, And Wondering: What's My Q?

Jun 15 2011 | comment(s)

Recently, I reviewed Simon Baron-Cohen's new book, The Science of Evil, and interviewed him concerning zero empathy, neurological disorders like autism spectrum disorders and personality disorders like narcissism, borderline, and psychopathy.
Fly Away: One Look At A Family Impacted By Autism, One Really Good Look

Fly Away: One Look At A Family Impacted By Autism, One Really Good Look

Jun 10 2011 | comment(s)

We’ve just finished a documentary on Stephen Hawking and I hand Bobby the dvd and ask him to put it in. “What now, Mama?”  

“Wait and see,” I tell them.

As  the  film starts, my three children, all at various points in the spectrum, all engaged in their own private worlds, perk up and stop to look at the tv where sounds of a person humming begin spontaneously upon the dvd loading.

All three set aside their cards or books and watch. Lily peppers me with questions as music plays and a child(?) draws people in vibrant markers.