By Dennis Procopio “Dennis, please just get in the f***ing car.” This was my mother, pleading with her 9-year-old son to sit in a friend’s car which had crushed velvet seats. I wouldn’t. I couldn’t. It felt…. unbearable. As she herself was diagnosed with a laundry list of clinical diagnoses includ…

My name is Zach Stehle. I am 22 and I have autism. In the past month, I have also received over 15 million views on TikTok! It all started one day in the beginning of July 2022. I was sitting in my room, minding my own business, reading a comic book and stroking my cat, Piper. All of a sudden, I hea…

By Na’Imah Todd, DVM I speak in silence, but language is my story. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a prodigy is defined as “a young person who is unusually talented in some way.” For me, this has always been language. My family recounts I started speaking at around 9 months of age. Som…

By Kaelynn Partlow I am 24 years old and I am diagnosed with “high-functioning autism.” There is a broad misconception in the autism community that so-called “high-functioning autism” means “easy autism.” And while it’s largely true that those of us labeled “high-functioning” tend to hav…

My Friend Theo By Scott Lentine He jumps for joy when you open the door Very happy and delighted to see you Doing a happy dance on the floor And enjoying getting hugs too   He loves looking out the windows Hoping to see other dogs and humans as well He gets a thrill out of playing various games…

“Growing up as an autism sibling was not easy and there was a lot of things I never understood, but as an adult I’ve learned how to find gratitude for the journey.” Natalie Castro By Ron Sandison Autism and sensory issues makes living space important to me. Home is a place for me to decompress and r…

By Nils Skudra As a Civil War historian, I have always been fascinated by the various personalities on both sides that played a pivotal role in shaping the course of the conflict. One of the most enigmatic of these figures is Jefferson Davis, who served as the Confederacy’s president throughout the …

“Whether you enjoy the event or not, the social hangover is inevitable” By Catherine Londero I am Autistic, have ADHD, and I enjoy social events. There is a common misconception that Autistic people avoid social events because we don’t enjoy them. What I don’t enjoy is the impact on my mind and body…

By Zach Labbadia It goes without saying that the acting market is highly saturated, which makes it a very competitive creative profession. Besides connections and talent, to achieve any success you must have an identifiable brand or anything that would make you unique in the industry. Last year, whe…

By Ron Sandison As a theologian with autism, I enjoyed reading Summer Kinard’s book Of Such is the Kingdom: A Practical Theology of Disability. Kinnard shares her insight on Orthodox theology and empowering people with disabilities for full participation in the life of the Church. On June 8th I wi…

Jake By Sanchia Storey My life is uncomplicated, black, and white. I don’t speak in forked tongue, Hide meanings behind tones, I give the bare bones.   Never hide behind lies and hidden truths just to be liked. I am really me, No ego to feed, All to see.   Naked to the eye I say what I be…

By Miya Sae It’s crazy what a lack of understanding can do even to those of us who are autistic. I was born in the earlier half of the 90s. There was more stigma. Hateful organizations were the only ones in the spotlight. Stereotypes weren’t being fought against as much as they are today. “End Autis…

“I overcame the constraints other set on me by understanding my strengths and using those strengths to serve others.” By Ron Sandison In interviewing hundreds of young adults with autism for my fourth book on Autism, Growth & Transitioning into Adulthood, I discovered the greatest hindrance t…

Autism Level 1 Speaks By Theresa Werba In a world of hyper-stimuli, Lights and sounds and touches, I retreat into the world within myself for relief. There is too much to process all at once, It comes at me like a screaming hoard, shoving up against my walls and forcing me to interact. Why interact?…