Amanda Bacon’s eating disorder was growing worse. She had lost 60 percent of her body weight and was consuming about 100 calories a day. But that wasn’t sick enough for her Medicaid managed-care company to cover an inpatient treatment program. She says she was told in 2017 that she would have to wei…

March is Women’s History Month. This week The Art of Autism is featuring 21 women on the autism spectrum who are making a difference. This is part 2 of a 3 part series. Read Part 1 and Part 3. The Art of Autism is grateful for the many autistic women who contribute to a better understandi…

Nine-year-old Thomais wrote and illustrated her own book, “The Story Of Thomias” (www.autismhappykingdom.com), proving that a little girl on the autism spectrum can express deep emotions. Yadira, Thomais’ mom and Thomais want to show other children with autism that they are not alone and can e…

Letters from Our Editors: Welcome to Zoom Autism Magazine, Issue 16! Guest Editor: Gretchen McIntire (Leary) It has been a honor and an amazing learning experience to step into the shoes of Guest Editor for Issue 16 of Zoom Autism Magazine. I knew right away that I wanted the theme to be about trave…

Update 10/8/2016 I’m collecting favorite quotes about autism from some of my favorite people. Please share your own in the comments and if I like it, I may add it to the list. 1. “If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism,” Dr. Stephen Shor…

We are well into the new school semester and I still haven’t done a summer wrap-up newsletter. Let’s fix that! In June we launched our first Autistry Comprehensive Adult Program (ACAP) Summer Session. It was five days a week of exercise, vocational training, college prep, and fun. The pr…

“Lock up your libraries if you like; but there is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind,” Virginia Woolf By Patrick Jasper Lee Autism and fiction aren’t commonly mentioned in the same sentence. It took me some time to realize that there seems these days to be f…

April 2, 2016 is World Autism Awareness Day – the Art of Autism seeking videos with the theme of #AutismSweets Cakes from around the world celebrating autism will be revealed on Saturday, April 2, 2016 Over 100 cake decorators from around the world have come together to bring autism acceptance and a…

In people with fragile X syndrome, autism is often accompanied by seizures, trouble falling asleep and anxiety, a new study suggests1. Fragile X syndrome is an inherited form of intellectual disability. Small studies and family surveys have hinted that people who have both fragile X and autism have …

Suggestions on participation in theater productions By Parasuram Ramamoorthi, Ph.D. Drama therapy can benefit autistic children and adults. Drama helps the individual to realize his/her potential through acting out roles and engaging in creative play. Behavioral issues such as hand flapping, rockin…

As a college student on the spectrum, I have learned that women like me often present themselves differently from our neurotypical peers. You may ask why. I don’t have all the answers, but I’d like to offer my perspective on what it’s like to be a woman diagnosed with autism. My diagnosis has affect…

Interview by Jenny BristolIllustration by Rebecca Burgess Maisie Soetantyo, M. Ed., is the founder of the non-profit Autism Career Pathways, an organization located in the San Francisco Bay Area that works with autistic individuals and families to promote autistic-friendly parenting practices and…

Kids who would usually steer clear from large crowds and/or social interaction are being brought right in the middle of it in a fun and engaging way. By Kendall Rayburn Pokémon Go is a free location-based app developed by Niantic for both iOS and Android devices. It encourages users to explore their…

Wearable trackers/bracelets are becoming a way of life. They come in all shapes and forms (and costs) and are fairly affordable. However, how does a blind person use one? Also, can a wearable tracker be used by visually impaired people for doing something totally different - like maybe help them nav…