The Art of Autism mourns the loss of Lois Curtis in November 2022. Lois Curtis was an African American artist with intellectual and developmental disabilities and schizophrenia. Curtis paved the way for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities to get out of institutional settings and…

By Ikea “Syance” Wilson I would like to say something about the R-word. Not only do I think it is offensive, I also believe this word could tear people down inside mentally and emotionally. We often use this word in order to express frustration to one another. However, this is not an ac…

There’s a new robot in town. Although it looks like any other toy robot, it is more of a companion, especially for children with Autism. Leka, the robot, encourages children with autism to develop social and motor skills by keeping them engaged and active. Leka has several apps that engage chi…

Matt Asner speaks to the Art of Autism about his move from Autism Speaks to Autism Society of America, his family and his vision for the future. By Debra Muzikar You are immersed in autism. How many children do you have and what ages are the ones on the autism spectrum? I have six kids. We are a bl…

Inspiration may strike anywhere, at any time. Albert Einstein purportedly polished his theory of relativity using insights from his dreams. Nikola Tesla is said to have drummed up the concept of an alternating current while taking a walk. And plenty of lesser-known scientists have cried ‘Eureka!’ at…

By Ryan Smoluk My art exhibit (Reflections at Great West Life) came to an end June 6th. It was well received and I met some nice people. Thank God for the 2 strong women in my life, my Mom and my sister Lisa. They helped dismantle all my art, pack it up and lug it over to my studio. I love them dea…

…in our daily communication with patients and families, how often do we, as physicians, inadvertently promote negative stereotypes, diminish our patients’ self-worth, or portray them as broken individuals or burdens to others? Christina Nicolaidis, MD, MPH, parent When, at age 3, my son rec…

By Mark Hutton Most kids, teens, and adults with Aspergers have a bunch of positive traits that more than make-up for any negative ones. One Aspie asserted, “Thank God I have Aspergers!” Let’s look at just a few of the positive traits that many with Asperger’s may have. Most Aspies: are …

About 0.75 percent of young children in northern Vietnam have autism, according to a large study of children in the region1. The study is part of a rare effort to systematically determine the prevalence of autism in the country and may represent the most accurate estimate yet. Three other studies fr…

Interview by Jenny BristolIllustration by Rebecca Burgess Chris Bonnello is an educator, writer, speaker, and advocate involved with children, adults, and society at large educating on autism-related topics. His experiences in education and writing have helped him connect with people and with cre…

This post was written by Andrew Atkinson from www.mobilitysmart.cc. Using a wheelchair or mobility scooter can mean that certain places and activities are off-limits. The world is not designed for people on wheels. Many with disabilities, including the elderly, find themselves restricted in their da…

Did you know that the number of legally blind people who can read Braille keeps going down? In the '50s, more than 50% of blind users could read Braille. Now, that number is down to less than 10%. In recent years, many blind children with visual impairment are encouraged to read books with large pri…

By Jasmine Dyoco ASD kids need to run and play just like their non-spectrum siblings and peers. But it can be tough to ensure your child gets enough physical activity, especially outdoors, when the world around him is teaming with loud noises and unfamiliar experiences around every corner. You can i…

What started as a casual conversation among a few women is now a reality – a reality that is meant to provide a calm space for autistic individuals. The Autism Nature Trail or “ANT” is a mile long trail situated within Letchwood State Park in Castile, NY. The trail is the brainchild of Lore…