Brooke and Autism Acceptance Month

April 19, 2012January 31, 2022 by Shannon Des Roches Rosa

We’re featuring “Slice of Life” conversations with Autistics of all ages — kids through adults — throughout April’s Autism Acceptance Month Our goal is to help TPGA readers understand that autistic people are people who have interesting, complicated lives and who are as diverse and varied as any other population united by a label. We are the people in each other’s neighborhoods, and the more we know about each other — the more visible autistic people and children are — the more common autism acceptance will be. That is our hope. Because our goal is to show autistic adults and kids being their own awesome selves, today we’re going off-script so we can best feature Brooke — whose mom Jess describes her thusly: “She is a nine year-old girl whose laughter starts at her shoulders, takes her entire body along for the ride, then sets the room ablaze in light.…

Disability

Lydia Wayman and Autism Acceptance Month

April 18, 2012January 31, 2022 by Shannon Des Roches Rosa

We’re featuring “Slice of Life” conversations with Autistics of all ages — kids through adults — throughout April’s Autism Acceptance Month Our goal is to help TPGA readers understand that autistic people are people who have interesting, complicated lives and who are as diverse and varied as any other population united by a label. We are the people in each other’s neighborhoods, and the more we know about each other — the more visible autistic people and children are — the more common autism acceptance will be. That is our hope. Today we’re talking with Lydia Wayman, a 24-year-old who loves friends, Diet Mountain Dew, and cats. She is greatly looking forward to a part time job and her forthcoming service dog, Lexie. She has a vast preference for communicating via text but has found a greater toleration for speech lately. What is your name? Lydia Wayman. Do you have…

Disability

Cameron and Autism Acceptance Month

April 17, 2012January 31, 2022 by Shannon Des Roches Rosa

We’re featuring “Slice of Life” conversations with Autistics of all ages — kids through adults — throughout April’s Autism Acceptance Month Our goal is to help TPGA readers understand that autistic people are people who have interesting, complicated lives and who are as diverse and varied as any other population united by a label. We are the people in each other’s neighborhoods, and the more we know about each other — the more visible autistic people and children are — the more common autism acceptance will be. That is our hope. Today we’re talking with Cameron, who is 10 years old, and loves video games and superhero movies. Autistic since birth, diagnosed at 5 years old, has two NT younger sisters. [Notes Cameron’s mother: “Cameron’s Interview … had to be broken into three sessions, had to repeat questions multiple times, and was due largely to the Easter candy I bribed…

Disability

John Elder Robison and Autism Acceptance Month

April 16, 2012January 31, 2022 by Shannon Des Roches Rosa

We’re featuring “Slice of Life” conversations with Autistics of all ages — kids through adults — throughout April’s Autism Acceptance Month Our goal is to help TPGA readers understand that autistic people are people who have interesting, complicated lives and who are as diverse and varied as any other population united by a label. We are the people in each other’s neighborhoods, and the more we know about each other — the more visible autistic people and children are — the more common autism acceptance will be. That is our hope. Today we’re talking with John Elder Robison, author of the books Look Me in the Eye and Be Different, as well as the mastermind behind Ace Frehley’s light up guitar (and so hero to anyone who ever owned a KISS lunchbox). What is your name? John Elder Robison Do you have a website? www.johnrobison.com and www.robisonservice.com. What would you…

Disability

Lily & Meredith and Autism Acceptance Month

April 15, 2012January 31, 2022 by Shannon Des Roches Rosa

We’re featuring “Slice of Life” conversations with Autistics of all ages — kids through adults — throughout April’s Autism Acceptance Month Our goal is to help TPGA readers understand that autistic people are people who have interesting, complicated lives and who are as diverse and varied as any other population united by a label. We are the people in each other’s neighborhoods, and the more we know about each other — the more visible autistic people and children are — the more common autism acceptance will be. That is our hope. Today we’re talking with science-loving sisters Lily and Meredith. What is your name? Lily, Meredith What would you like a one-sentence description of yourself to say? L: Shark and Lego lover. M: Hot wing-eating computer genius. Do you have any autistic superpowers? L: I have a good sense of hearing and superior intellect. I have the ability to spin…

Disability

Savannah Logsdon-Breakstone and Autism Acceptance Month

April 14, 2012January 31, 2022 by Shannon Des Roches Rosa

We’re featuring “Slice of Life” conversations with Autistics of all ages — kids through adults — throughout April’s Autism Acceptance Month Our goal is to help TPGA readers understand that autistic people are people who have interesting, complicated lives and who are as diverse and varied as any other population united by a label. We are the people in each other’s neighborhoods, and the more we know about each other — the more visible autistic people and children are — the more common autism acceptance will be. That is our hope. Today we’re talking with multi-faceted self-advocate Savannah Logsdon-Breakstone, who also recorded a video of her answers for accessibility purposes. What’s Your Name? Hi, My name is Savannah Nicole Logsdon-Breakstone. I’m 24. Do you have a website? I write for a lot of places, but my own website is Cracked Mirror in Shalott. I blog mainly about Disability issues, and…

Disability

Amy Sequenzia and Autism Acceptance Month

April 13, 2012January 31, 2022 by Shannon Des Roches Rosa

We’re featuring “Slice of Life” conversations with Autistics of all ages — kids through adults — throughout April’s Autism Acceptance Month Our goal is to help TPGA readers understand that autistic people are people who have interesting, complicated lives and who are as diverse and varied as any other population united by a label. We are the people in each other’s neighborhoods, and the more we know about each other — the more visible autistic people and children are — the more common autism acceptance will be. That is our hope. Today we’re talking with Amy Sequenzia, a self-advocate who types her thoughts. What is your name? Amy Sequenzia (my full name is Amy-Christine Sequenzia). Do you have a website? No. I will have my own blog soon. Meanwhile I have been blogging for Ollibean. What would you like a one-sentence description of yourself to say? Autistic self-advocate and poet.…

Disability

Lindsey Nebeker and Autism Acceptance Month

April 11, 2012January 31, 2022 by Shannon Des Roches Rosa

We’re featuring “Slice of Life” conversations with Autistics of all ages — kids through adults — throughout April’s Autism Acceptance Month Our goal is to help TPGA readers understand that autistic people are people who have interesting, complicated lives and who are as diverse and varied as any other population united by a label. We are the people in each other’s neighborhoods, and the more we know about each other — the more visible autistic people and children are — the more common autism acceptance will be. That is our hope. Today we’re talking with musician Lindsey Nebeker, who often writes about sexuality, and who makes Twitter a better place as @AutismIsARose. What is your name? Lindsey Nebeker. My close friends call me Z. Do you have a website? Naked Brain Ink – www.nakedbrainink.com What would you like a one-sentence description of yourself to say? Authentically human. Do you have…

Disability

Matt Friedman and Autism Acceptance Month

April 10, 2012January 31, 2022 by Shannon Des Roches Rosa

We’re featuring “Slice of Life” conversations with Autistics of all ages — kids through adults — throughout April’s Autism Acceptance Month Our goal is to help TPGA readers understand that autistic people are people who have interesting, complicated lives and who are as diverse and varied as any other population united by a label. We are the people in each other’s neighborhoods, and the more we know about each other — the more visible autistic people and children are — the more common autism acceptance will be. That is our hope. Today we’re talking with Matt Friedman, whom some of you may know as the irreverent comic artist behind the blog Dude, I’m an Aspie. What is your name? Matt Friedman. Do you have a website? www.dudeimanaspie.com What would you like a one-sentence description of yourself to say? I’m a self-identified autistic who is the cartoonist and writer of Dude,…

Disability

Jack and Autism Acceptance Month

April 9, 2012January 31, 2022 by Shannon Des Roches Rosa

We’re featuring “Slice of Life” conversations with Autistics of all ages — kids through adults — throughout April’s Autism Acceptance Month Our goal is to help TPGA readers understand that autistic people are people who have interesting, complicated lives and who are as diverse and varied as any other population united by a label. We are the people in each other’s neighborhoods, and the more we know about each other — the more visible autistic people and children are — the more common autism acceptance will be. That is our hope. Today’s Slice of Life is a conversation between Jack and his mother, TPGA contributor Jean Winegardner, who also blogs at Stimeyland and Autism Unexpected. What is your name? Jack. What would you like a one-sentence description of yourself to say? I love video games. My trigger word is lasagna. [That last is a hybrid from the Muppet Movie and…