Elaina Fernandez is a 2016 Schwallie Family Scholar. Entering her second year at University of Montevallo, she shares her views on the ignorance and the lack of awareness about autism around her. As a person with Autism Spectrum Disorder, I believe that the main factor holding back autistic people today – as it has been for…
College provides you an opportunity to study subjects that you are genuinely interested in with like-minded peers. It is an opportunity to become more independent and have freedom in the choices you make on a daily basis. Many individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have shared their positive experiences in college settings. For example, Stephen…
When most people think of college, they imagine studying in a dorm room away from home for a couple of years. But really, my college experience has been pretty unique! Rather than head off to a dorm for a few years, I needed to take my college classes in a different way. College Search…
Many of you are gifted in different ways. However, you may have noticed that it is sometimes hard to understand other peoples’ perspectives or accept unexpected change in a normal routine. Cognitive flexibility is a type of thinking that is often more difficult for individuals with autism spectrum disorder. This is sometimes referred to in…
For readers considering their college options or who are about to start freshmen year, this article provides tips and questions to help them best prepare. Step 1: Find a school that fits. As you’re scouring the internet in search of the “perfect” school, you may be discovering there are lots of schools to choose…
How autism shaped the academic journey of two completely different people Dena Gassner, MSW is a second year Ph.D. student in Social Welfare at Adelphi University. The Arc US and GRASP benefit from her insights on their national boards. Her presentations have included the Government Accountability Offices, the UN in Geneva, National Autistic Society of…
Dr. Lamar Hardwick reflects on Autism Awareness Month. This piece was originally published on Lamar’s website, The Autism Pastor. Last month was Autism Awareness month and people all over the globe were communicating, campaigning, criticizing, and complaining about autism and the like. When it comes to autism and autism advocacy/activism there is nor shortage of…
Capri Kowsky Age: 22 Hometown: Batavia, Ohio University/Program: Studying Media Arts and Animation at the Art Institute of Ohio-Cincinnati, studying Media Arts and Animation Autism Symptoms: Echolalia, stimming, routine dependence On Self-Advocacy To whom did you choose to disclose your ASD, and why? How was that experience for you? Since 9th grade onward, I…
A self-advocate shares his experience growing up on the spectrum and offers some advice. My name is Russell Lehmann, I am 26-years-old and I happen to have autism. I have come a long, long way in life. Fourteen years ago, at the height of my distress, I was pretty much non-verbal. I was too afraid…
Tucker James Collins (TJC): When I was a child, my mother told me that she thought I had Asperger’s Syndrome. She framed this in terms of me being socially awkward and intelligent. My siblings complained about me being “weird”, and no adults in my family dissuaded them from using this label. I received no services,…
