I’m Not Just Socially Awkward
I am not socially awkward and lazy or incompetent. I did not get this autism diagnosis diagnosis because of shyness. I am autistic, with all the joys and pains being human brings.
acceptance
At Home in Ourselves: A Mindful Acceptance of My Autistic Son
Photo © Stuart Anthony | Flickr/Creative Commons [Image: Two backlit people attempting to jump over a horizon-adjacent sun.] Leslie J. Davis www.dharmamamas.com “When I practice breathing in and I say, ‘I have arrived,’ that is an achievement. Now I am fully present, one hundred percent alive. The present moment has become my true home. When
Autism, Transmasculine Identity, and Invisibility
Everyone in my life knows that I’m transgender. Comparatively, very few people know about another major part of me: that I’m autistic.
Mental Health and Autism: Why Acceptance Matters
Photo © Mariana Zanatta | Flickr/Creative Commons [image: Hand-drawn black-and-white outlined block letters spelling “anxiety” on a background of “anxiety” written repeatedly in black & filling all space.] Christine Motokane www.workingthedoubleshift.com It is well known that individuals on the autism spectrum are likely to have co-occurring mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. However, mental
Parents: Let’s Talk About Grief and Disability
During my 15 of autism activism, I’ve seen tremendous positive change in what people—including parents—believe about autism, but this “grief” crap JUST WON’T DIE.
Autism and Intense Interests: Why We Love What We Love and Why It Should Matter to You
The next time you are tempted to tell an Autistic person their interest is silly, trivial, a waste of time, weird, or pointless, stop—and remember why we love what we love. We are somebody, too, and we must be respected, protected, and never rejected.
The Best Bar Mitzvah Boy
Todd Drezner www.lovinglamppostsmovie.com Dov and Sam | Photo © Brad Alpernin [image: Two white Jewish pre-teen boys, wearing suit jackets and ties at their Bar Mitzvah service, posing together and smiling for the camera.] We told our son Sam that there is no applause at Bar Mitzvah services. But when he finished his speech,
Hey Parents of Autistic Kids: Here Are Five Big, Avoidable Mistakes
I am all about helping parents learn from my mistakes, so they don’t repeat my mistakes. Here are five bonks I made during the early years of parenting my autistic son, and how you can avoid repeating my fails.
How Apple Is Honoring World Autism Acceptance Day and Month
How excellent to see major cultural influencers like Apple honor Autism Acceptance during April, like this an Apple announcement about the month’s strategy and events, and descriptions of the apps in their Autism Acceptance Collection—including some excellent app discounts: From Apple: Sunday, April 2 is annual World Autism Acceptance Day, which kicks off Autism Acceptance
Parents: Don’t Hide Your Children’s Autism Diagnosis From Them
Since I didn’t know I was autistic, I just assumed there was something wrong with me and that I deserved what I got. I learned that intrinsically, I was less than a person, since I didn’t have a framework to tell me otherwise.