Ten years ago, when Aidan, my profoundly autistic son, was 14, I had all kinds of ideas about what his adulthood might look like. I often swung between hope and fear. On hopeful days, I envisioned that he would live in a cool community with his peers; we’d start a business (I even bought a…
Ready…Set…Plan! by Crystal Sanford Ready or not…here comes summer! It’s almost time for family vacations, dipping our toes in the sand or pool, and savoring late-night sunsets. But for some, summer doesn’t bring excitement and anticipation. Unfortunately, for some parents of autistic children, summer only brings more anxiety and fear of the unknown. Autistic individuals…
Across the lifespan, autistic people are more likely to have a diagnosis of obesity than non-autistic people. For this article, “obesity” refers to the medical diagnosis of an elevated body mass index. It is important to be mindful of variety in preferences related to term use (for example, a preference for “larger body size” instead…
There’s a particular diner that sits in the heart of Times Square in New York City that is a family favorite of ours. On a recent visit, we squeezed sideways through the cramped aisles of the bustling dining room, sliding into our booth. As we scanned the menus for dinner selections, the waiter breezed up.…
Networking stinks. Yes, I said it. Why? The Oxford English Dictionary defines networking as “the action or process of making use of a network of people for the exchange of information, etc., or for professional or other advantage.” That definition doesn’t help very much. Et cetera is an indication of continued similar things. “Other advantage”…
Everyone needs a sense of belonging. Research shows a strong link between feeling like you belong and having a high quality of life. For many people, being among coworkers, family members, classmates, teammates, neighbors, or fellow congregants can bring a sense of community and acceptance. However, being part of these groups can make autistics feel…
OAR recently celebrated its 23rd anniversary. At 23, most of us were likely still figuring out who we were and what we wanted to do with our lives. However, OAR’s 23 years represent an incredible body of work: over two decades of funding research and providing free, high-quality resources to the autism community. As many…
One of the most overlooked resources for providing effective interventions to your autistic child is already in your home: You. When you use interventions in your everyday parenting routines, you play an active role in your child’s development while building your confidence. Training parents or other caregivers to lead their children’s interventions is an effective…
How does an employer make the workplace a healthy environment for an autistic employee? This is a great question! It recognizes that the accommodations mindset has yet to yield much progress for those with non-physical (also called invisible) disabilities, including neurodivergence. Instead, it asks about accommodations that can be incorporated into the workplace itself, rather…
I was diagnosed simultaneously with autism spectrum disorder and ADHD in April 2022 at the age of 23. Several years later, I was diagnosed with other mental disabilities. Throughout my adult life, I have been looking for resources and support from others to show me how to go about being an autistic woman with mental…
