White person with long wavy brown hair, lying on grass. They are wearing Groucho Marx glasses with a nose, black bushy mustache, and black bushy eyebrows. Their eyes and mouth are open wide in a mock grimace.

Autism

The Complicated Politics of Passing as Neurotypical—and Writing as Autistic

July 6, 2023July 6, 2023 by Meg Eden Kuyatt

Maybe there’s a reason autistic authors have often opted to write neurotypical characters. Maybe it’s proven to be more sellable and “believable” than their own experience. I’m upset, wondering how many wonderful autistic stories we’re missing out on as a world because of neurotypical gatekeeping.

Cover of the book The Fire, The Water, and Maddie McGinn. The background is a photo of a fiery sky over ocean waves, with a young girl standing on a beach at the bottom. The author's name "Sally J. Pla" is at the top, and the title is over the rest of the photo.

acceptance

Book Review: The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn

June 11, 2023June 11, 2023 by Meg Eden Kuyatt

The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinn is an absolutely wonderful, important book for kids that don’t have a voice and may not be able to identify abuse or know how to talk about it. Fantastic for autistic and allistic readers alike.

A blond white woman. She is sitting at a table and signing an open book.

Autism

April and Accommodations: Our Sensory Needs Are Real!

April 14, 2022May 4, 2022 by Sally J. Pla

I need regular doses of solitude to recover from sensory onslaught. This doesn’t mean I am anti-social. I’m deeply social, but I do need a fair amount of downtime.