At age 24, our son, Matt, represents a generation of more than 500,000 U.S. children with autism entering adulthood this decade. In many ways, I’ve been planning for what happens when the school bus stops coming from the first day it arrived. Where will he live? How will he be safe? How can we be…
At a recent workshop I led, we had a great discussion on the definition of self-advocacy, practicing a three-step model for determining when advocacy is necessary, the development and implementation of an advocacy plan, and the required disclosure explaining why an accommodation or greater understanding was necessary. We came up with solutions for addressing challenges…
On the recent anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Labor Secretary Tom Perez said, “People with disabilities want to work. They want to be independent and self-sufficient. They even want to pay taxes. They want the feeling of pride and purpose that comes with waking up every morning, performing a job, and earning…
“All of my life I have been bullied.” Luke Jackson, Freaks, Geeks, and Asperger Syndrome Luke speaks for thousands of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who experience bullying and harassment in schools. Once a silent epidemic endured by countless children daily, bullying in schools is now being recognized as a public health concern. How…
Ten years ago, I joined the Autistic self-advocacy movement because the state of our national conversation on autism was terrible. At the time, few opportunities existed for Autistic advocates to have a voice in discussions about research, policy, and service provision relevant to our lives. Many autism organizations refused to so much as acknowledge the…
People on the autism spectrum are valuable members of our communities. They have many roles to play, dreams to achieve, and contributions to make. Near the top of that list is having a job. For most people, work provides more than just an income. It is part of one’s identity and one of the main…
As each New Year begins, many of us engage in that time-honored practice of bettering ourselves by making resolutions, and I am no different. As I began thinking of my own list this year (lose those holiday pounds I have gained, set up a gym schedule and actually stick to it this year, read a…
’Tis the season to be merry. But for those of us who have children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), it can be overwhelming. While most people enjoy the Christmas lights, holiday carols, and giant inflatable reindeer adorning front lawns, we know that our children may shy away from such festivities or run away with their…
Imagine standing at a podium and delivering a speech to a large audience, getting to page four only to find that the remaining pages are blank. It almost seems cruel – you have worked hard to get to that podium, with great accomplishments to show for it, and you have prepared intensely for this very…
