When parents of newly identified autistic kids ask me what they should know, the first thing I say is: “We get tired.” This is so important. We need rest, more frequently and in greater durations than non-autistic people.
That so much of the sex ed made for Autistic people emphasizes compliance with neurotypical expectations—as opposed to advocating for their own boundaries and needs—feels particularly painful in light of my experiences as a survivor.
If your child has recently been diagnosed with autism, as my son was in 2003, here’s what I want you to know: Learn from me, don’t be me.
T.C. Waisman, Monique Botha, and Wenn Lawson—three deeply compassionate autistic experts—talk about their experiences with, and insights for, navigating this planet and our societies.
Diane J. Wright is the founder of Autastic.com—a resource and community hub for thousands of autistic adults, including spaces specifically for autistic people of color. She talked with us about her advocacy, including shaping the stories of autistic PoC as told in popular media.
Many autistic people rely on multimodal communication for accessibility. Kaishawna Fleming discusses why showcasing different forms of communication is so important for disability representation.
People who tell you that colonoscopies are hard may not know how tough you are. Many autistic people have significant physical disabilities or diseases, and we are used to life being hard.
I would like a term to describe myself, as just one person among many many autistics, but the problem is ableds hear, “low support needs” and think, “OK then it’s fine to round down to zero.”
Medicaid is life for my mostly non-speaking autistic adult son. Cutting it would remove the very services that make his beautiful, interdependent life possible.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently announced that he would find the cause of autism in five months and “eliminate those exposures.” This kind of deeply disturbing statement can lead to real harm.
