Started in 2005 in an online forum for autistic people, Autistic Pride Day is a day to celebrate neurodiversity. It is also about shifting views from the paradigm of “disease” to “difference.” The Art of Autism would love if you would share  what you are proud of? Please…

Into Your (Joe’s) World by Michael C. Kregler As a composer, I’ve always tried to follow this self-imposed advice: in order to create authentic and convincing music, be sure to a) study great composers, and b) write within your own experience. The latter would become especially significant when, in …

“Be thankful for autism. God shines brightest in weakness, and it comes with strengths that enable us to fill certain job roles better than others would (a talent, if you will).” Peter Lantz By Ron Sandison Recently I had the opportunity to interview Peter Lantz about his career creating…

By Helen Wallace-Iles When you have a child, there’s something nobody tells you: suddenly your first priority becomes another person’s needs instead of your own, and this can take a lot of getting used to. Then comes the twist: as soon as you’ve adjusted to them being totally dependent on you, you h…

Why I paint and share rocks and shells I have hand-painted By Denise Angele Some people think rock painting is silly; some have criticized it as graffiti; some just collect some of the wonderful art of others; some play the game and rehide, some are given as gifts. Rocks are not really damaged, even…

“Maybe if I can skydive, I might someday feel secure enough and steady enough to sit in conversations with people and not play on my phone. “ By Austin John Jones Do you ever get that feeling that you think you might want something, but you aren’t exactly sure? Like you can’t make …

“Low pitched notes really make me feel like love might be truly possible.  High pitched notes make me feel like I could go  crazy with pain and sadness. Great rhythms can make me feel like life is freedom.” By Jeremy Sicile-Kira Music makes my life feel normal sometimes because…

Call for Artists for Art Without Boundaries, a new book featuring autistic artists If you are on the spectrum and you are an artist or an aspiring artist, this is a great opportunity to share your work. It is also an opportunity to share your story and help other people understand what it means to b…

One of the film’s significant strides is found in its focus on a strong female autistic protagonist since most movie depictions of autism feature male protagonists on the spectrum. By Nils Skudra On recent occasion I had the opportunity watch the newly released film “Please Stand By,” featuring Dak…

An interview with Stuart Duncan, creator of the computer game Autcraft, a safe alternative to Minecraft By Stephanie King Stuart Duncan has given the community something to talk about, Autcraft, a Minecraft server with special admins and rules designed with children on the spectrum in mind. I wasn’t…

For those on the autism spectrum a 9 to 5 job doesn’t always work By Morgan Giosa One of my biggest struggles in life has been adhering to a structured work environment. In school, my teachers and I were always at odds. I was a bit of an eccentric troublemaker and experienced a lot of anger,…

“Rather than healing our child of his developmental disability, God healed me of my spiritual disability,” Diane Dokko, author of Unbroken Faith: Spiritual Recovery for the Special Needs Parents By Ron Sandison Diane Dokko Kim felt devastated when her son Jeremy at 18 months was diagnos…

Normal People Scare Me is playing on Netflix and available for purchase on the Normal Films website By Nils Skudra On a recent occasion I had the opportunity to watch the 2006 documentary “Normal People Scare Me,” directed by teenage filmmaker Taylor Cross and his mother Keri Bowers (who happens to …

By Ryan Smoluk I have always been fascinated by the National Geographic magazine. The photographs are amazing. It helped to connect me to the world around me. That was back in the days before the internet. Looking back now I understand that the magazine helped develop my artistic ability and encoura…