Self-advocacy—the ability to communicate one’s interests, needs, and rights—is a key component in supporting greater independence among autistic people. Advocacy in the workplace is particularly important since autistics can often feel overlooked or under-supported in a neurotypical environment. OAR recently concluded its fall webinar series focused on autism in the workplace. Those webinars and more…
“What are we getting Kelsey this year?” At this point, I can generally get a sense of when my wife will undoubtedly ask me that question around the holidays. It’s a simple question, right? We’re fortunate to come up with a list of family and friends that we purchase gifts for throughout each season. But,…
As the number of autistic students attending college has increased, more colleges have created programs to support them. However, mental health support is often not included as a component of those programs. This is a critical lack since autistic adults face more anxiety than their non-autistic peers. A 2020 study found that 20% of autistic…
When asked to write about my autism advocacy experience, many things came to mind. I have penned articles, been interviewed for podcasts, and presented at conferences. It seemed like I was making a difference—but I never knew for sure. Looking over everything I did to spread autism awareness and acceptance, I found one form of…
Without disability advocacy, the autistic community would not be thriving today. Autistic children would not be able to attend school, “autism” would be too stigmatized to mention, institutions and asylums would be the norm, and conversations about autism in the workplace would be virtually unheard of. The foundational, trailblazing advocacy efforts of early disabled activists…
The holiday season can be a fun, but sometimes stressful, time for autistic people. On one hand, the season may include quality time spent with family and friends. However, it can also be a deviation from one’s routine which may include heightened sensory sensitivities and stimuli that can make the experience uncomfortable. In this interview,…
In 2001 my brother was participating in intensive early intervention. He was two, and I was 12. The therapy room in our basement was largely off limits for me; I would come home from school and our mom would come upstairs to greet me, unless he was having a meltdown, then she wasn’t permitted to…
Tory Ridgeway wanted to be an aerospace engineer in the U.S. Navy, but the Navy didn’t seem to want him. Tory is my son, who also happens to have an autism diagnosis. My hope is that our family’s experience with exclusionary military recruitment policies can be used to open doors for others with exceptional needs.…
For autistic children, who often crave routine and “sameness,” the frequent moves that characterize the lives of most military families can pose particular challenges. This resistance to change often leads to anxiety and disruptive behaviors. But if given ample time to anticipate, understand, and practice dealing with anticipated changes, most children can learn to successfully…
In late September, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that nearly 500,000 people, mostly children, who had lost Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage due to procedural errors would be reinstated, according to The New York Times. On September 29, HHS released a letter sent to state health officials emphasizing…
