“It takes a village to raise a child. It takes a child with autism to raise the consciousness of the village,” Coach Elaine Hall By Debra Muzikar Today September 28 is Good Neighbor’s Day. This year in California we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Lanterman Act. The und…

Being a global citizen isn’t just about appreciation of different cultures but different neurologies as well. by MaryAnne, MamaSmiles As the daughter of a diplomat, I was raised in five countries on three continents. Parenting a child with autism sometimes reminds me of the culture shock I wo…

I think understanding that we’re ALL different and weird in different ways is really important. By Sonya Hallett Everyone’s different, in all kinds of weird and interesting ways. In recent years, I’ve been coming to better understand some of my own weirdnesses and how they impact on how I see the …

Keri Bowers Art of Autism Co-Founder and film maker Normal Films had the opportunity to visit Shannon Penrod in the Autism Live Studio with a 3-part interview this month. Keri talks about her new film  Normal People Scare Me Too. Keri talks about The Art of Autism Nonprofit. Keri Bowers and Film P…

“We recognize that peace is a choice. Instead of demanding peace from governments and leaders, we claim our own creative ability to manifest a world of peace, beginning in our own consciousness.” Spirit Expressions By Art of Autism Poets ~ with Keri Bowers Our egos separate us from peace, from p…

Steve Silberman ASAN Ally of the Year talks about the making of Neurotribes, now out in paperback, and the future of the autism community. He will be a Keynote Speaker at the Love and Autism Conference in San Diego. By Debra Muzikar  What was your impetus for writing NeuroTribes? Since I answer …

by April Griffin As far back as I can remember I felt more comfortable around male peers. I have a lot of interests that tend to be male orientated and find them easier to converse with. My generation had strong gender roles and I felt compelled to rebel against them. April Griffin “ExhaleR…

Part of loving yourself is letting go of those grudges you hold that ultimately hurt you more than the person you hate.  Forgiving others as well as yourself will begin the healing process and allow you to move forward with your life.  The Art of Becoming A Man By Tom Iland Current statistics tell u…

This list is meant as a springboard for discussion and more awareness into the female experience with autism. By Samantha Craft Females with Asperger’s Syndrome: An Unofficial List Section A: Deep Thinkers A deep thinker A prolific writer drawn to poetry *Highly intelligent Sees things at mu…

The Prolonged Developmental Phases of an Autistic Child *This is a paper I wrote in 2001 when my now adult son was nearing his seventh birthday. It was written for a graduate psychology class, Phases of Human Development. I found it in a box as I was going through old papers and realized that 15 yea…

By Gaelle S. Warner I am an Autodidact. (Editor’s note: An Autodidact is a person who learns about a subject with little or no formal education. Gaelle Werner is a self-taught artist). I have been painting and taking photos for more than 20 years now. Three cities have shaped my artistic influ…

From when I was very young, I watched people’s behavior. If someone was purposely rude, or mistreated people, I immediately lost all interest in them. If someone tried to bully me, I immediately thought, well, if I’m too different for them, they’d never accept Anthony…I don&#…

Autism politics is like faculty politics on PCP. An Interview with John Pitney Jr., Professor of Politics, Claremont McKenna College, Author of The Politics of Autism: Navigating the Contested Spectrum By Debra Muzikar Why did you decide to write the book The Politics of Autism: Navigating the Con…

By S. Scott Sanderson Everywhere I go there is noise. From my pocket I pull out earplugs. Alone I want to sit and read. But here I am in the midst of people working, moving and busy. Like the eye in the center of a storm, I want to be calm and still. To my right, up high and loud a television blares…