The Temperfect Mug is designed to solve the perennial problem of keeping coffee at the right temperature. Coffee’s usually too hot when freshly brewed, and there’s a narrow window when it’s just hot enough, before rapidly cooling off. Not great if you’re an autistic with sensory issues, who gets turned off by coffee at the wrong temperature. This innovative mug uses a special type of insulation that stores excess heat, and keeps the coffee at 55 Celcius/130 Farenheit for up to 3 hours. Find out more at Kickstarter.

It’s not uncommon for autistics to be on a range of medication and supplements, and remembering when to take what (and whether you’ve already taken it) can be quite a challenge. GlowCap takes the guesswork out of pill-popping, and even sends reminders to your cellphone. See the video below to find out more.

There’s something about tuning in to your favourite station on an old-fashioned radio. Now you can choose from an entire selection at the Radio Shop, which specialises in retro radios and TVs.

Autistic children often have a lot of creative energy, but it doesn’t always end up in the right place. Why not turn their bedroom walls into whiteboards, and let them use the space for artistic expression? IdeaPaint is a special paint that creates a whiteboard-like surface, and is used in schools, offices and other spaces where creativity is encouraged. Video from DailyGrommet.

Many autistics are sensitive to noise, including what non-autistics would regard as normal background noise (e.g. muzak and chatter in a mall, traffic sounds on the street, various noises at a fairground, chatter in a school cafeteria) . Being on the ASD spectrum, I personally find background chatter and muzak distressing after a few minutes. In such environments, I normally listen to slow music on my earphones, but it’s not convenient when holding a conversation at the same time.

Some autistics get round the problem by wearing these earplugs from Etymotic. Unlike normal earplugs, the ER-20 is designed to reduce volume without blocking sound completely, and maintains a high degree of fidelity, so you can hear conversations or music clearly (just not as loud). Some autistic users have found them helpful in reducing the irritation of ambient noise.

“I am autistic with severe sensory deficits. These ear plugs are perfect for this problem. Have tried sponge ear plugs off and on, but they muffle all sound. The Etymotic Ear Plugs keep the sounds sharp and audible but just turn the volume down. It was recommended by a friend who has the same problem.” [Amazon customer review]

The earplugs come in different sizes, so be sure to get the right size for your ear canal. The earplug stem sticks out of the ear, so depending on how your ear canal is angled, it may (or may not) be conspicuous. For examples, see the pics below, courtesy of Amazon. The wearer in the second pic appears to have a ear canal that’s angled down, so the earplug stem is less obvious. For detailed product specs, visit the Etymotic website.