In this week’s blog, Jennifer Rose talks about going to Dorney Park, an amusement park, with some friends. She hilariously mentions the problems she encountered at the park, and how she overcame them. Jennifer’s comedic narrative reminds all of us not to take life too seriously, and to be flexible with plans. She also writes…
Eleanor Banks is a self-advocate who has been recently diagnosed with autism. In this post, Eleanor discusses aspects of self-care: what it is and how people with autism are affected by it. Many people find it hard to look after themselves, or to have good self-care. Self-care involves management and monitoring yourself. Specifically, self-care encompasses…
Michael John Carley is a self-advocate who frequently visits companies to discuss topics related to autism. In this post, Carley writes about how we, as a society, fail individuals with autism by not creating a comprehensive sex-education guide. This is the second post in a series about sex-education; this was originally posted on Sinkhole. The politics…
Michael John Carley is a self-advocate who frequently visits companies to discuss topics related to autism. In this post, Carley writes about how we, as a society, fail individuals with autism by not creating a comprehensive sex-education guide. This was originally posted on Sinkhole. In 2003, I founded the Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership…
Many people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face a dilemma in the workplace: being treated differently by their neurotypical coworkers. Some describe being treated with kid gloves, as if they are powder kegs that could go off at any moment. Others describe their coworkers looking at them with unwarranted levels of pity, as if their…
In this article, Jennifer Rose writes about a friendship that’s based on their similarities and compatibility, not on their disabilities. Jennifer is a self-advocate and a student at the College of St. Elizabeth. My mom wanted me to have a memorable summer last year. Naturally, she considered a list of options, such as seeing my older cousin…
Erin Clemens, a self-advocate, gives stellar advice about what to do if your child is just diagnosed with autism. This loving and thoughtful advice will really make a difference in how your child accepts the diagnosis, and it will help you accept the diagnosis also. This post was originally written on The Mighty. As someone…
The following post is by Jeanette Purkis, a self-advocate; and is taken with permission from her website. It is about the following “traps” that many people with autism find themselves in, and how to avoid being exploited and manipulated. Purkis also includes personal anecdotes about times when she has been manipulated by others. When I was…
Kay Lomas, a mother, writer, and a recently diagnosed self-advocate, discusses the difficulties of working when you have autism. In this post, which was originally posted on The Mighty, Lomas writes about her personal stressors with work while relating her personal experience to the shockingly low statistic of individuals with autism who are employed full-time.…
One might assume that college wouldn’t be on the radar for someone on the autism spectrum. However, I believe that my autism helped me to be successful in college. Without it, I would not have received the social skills therapy that helped me hone my coping skills and enhanced my self-discovery and self-advocacy. By high…
