By Aaron Bouma For much of my life I have been mainly focused on military history and military affairs as my main special interest. Many Autistics have a strong interest in a specific topic which we fixate on. In 2007, a year after I graduated from high school, I attempted to join the Canadian Force…

Considered the father of theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence, Alan Turing’s idiosyncrasies have led some historians to speculate that he may have had Asperger’s syndrome. Editor’s Note: Asperger’s syndrome is a previously used diagnosis which was under the autism …

My name is Beth Lipari and I am a Casting Director in Los Angeles, working along with my casting partners, Sarah Katzman and Lisa Beach, on a feature film called WILDFLOWER, featuring a strong, supporting part for a woman with IDD. Based on a true story, it will bring to life a young woman’s…

Autistic Emotions Happy, sadness, envy, fear, and surprise— 6 emotions, 6 logics, all misunderstood. Smile, tears, growl, grimace, whimper, and jaw dropping— 6 actions, 6 expressions, all human. Comedy, tragedy, revenge, rival, horror, and plot twist— 6 encounters, 6 experiences, all stories. Y…

By Jordan Wilson-Dalzell There are many ways you can show up and support autistic people. First, remember to listen to us. We are the experts on autism and our own lived experiences. Support autistic folks in your lives by listening to them first, and learn from autistic voices in general. A place…

By Nils Skudra This week I took the opportunity to watch The Theory of Everything, a 2014 biographical film about the renowned cosmologist and physicist Stephen Hawking who struggled with ALS (commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) throughout his life but achieved remarkable success and internation…

By Ron Sandison Father’s Day is especially meaningful to me as a dad with autism, I try not to take the responsibility for granted with my hectic schedule of writing and speaking. When I was diagnosed with autism at age seven the experts informed my parents I would probably never get married and ha…

By Anton Spivack Recently I posted this article, calling out the musical Jagged Little Pill for its non-binary erasure, to a Facebook page for Mensans who are fans of Broadway. None of the commenters supported me, they just blasted me, accusing me of calling them transphobic and dismissing everythi…

By Kathy Crabbe I’ve been an artist forever! I try to paint every day because it brings me richness; of experience, emotion, intuition and yes, income too! I don’t necessarily choose what I’ll be painting, it chooses me! During Covid I only painted cute, cozy kittens on wood. Now I’m painting nude…

Until I began my career in creative chemistry, I hadn’t considered my characteristics of my autism as evolutionary advantages. By Burnett Grant In recent years, it has become clear to me that higher education is viewed by many people as a means to get a job, something that hadn’t occurred to me whe…

“The tables have turned I am now the stud that wrestlers are afraid to face on the mat.” Caiden Hooks By Ron Sandison Caiden Hooks finds motivation to overcome every challenge by his favorite Scripture 2 Corinthians 5:7, “For we live by faith, not by sight.” Multi-talented Caiden qualified for the …

A humorous look at autism. By Englebert Lau 1.) Repetitive habits that only make sense to you Girl: “That’s weird.” Guy: “What’s weird?” Girl: “You always eat food in the same order. Steak, then potatoes, then vegetables.” Guy: “That makes perfect sense. You have to eat steak when it’s warm. P…

By Nils Skudra This afternoon I had the opportunity to watch Here We Are, a recent Israeli film directed by Nir Bergman which focuses on the relationship between Uri, a young man on the autism spectrum, and his father Aharon, who is resistant to letting him live in a specialized group home. The film…

By Essmaa Litim Happy Mother’s Day. To every mother out there who continues to fight for her babies. Who works endless hours to make sure they are fed. Who flies halfway across the world for opportunity. Who sacrifices it all so that those babies can live the life she couldn’t have. For her life is…