An interview with Australian artist Zalie Copeland and her mom. How old are you and where do you live? Zalie: 15 years old, I live in Eltham Mom: Eltham is a suburb of Melbourne, state of Victoria in Australia. Do you have any siblings? 2 brothers and a sister, Bryce is 17, Flynn is 15 (Zalie’…

A look at a classic film’s depiction of autism and that developmental disability’s subsequent treatment three decades later By Nils Skudra I first watched Rain Man, a 1988 cult classic film starring Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman, when I was much younger and in the early stages of finding out more a…

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…

How does it make you feel to know you are different from others? By Austin John Jones You ever feel like a black sheep in a flock of regular sheep? You ever feel like a zebra in a group of horses? You ever feel like you know you are the same as everyone else, but you just still feel different from e…

“Autistic Pride Day is every day,” Kimberly Gerry-Tucker 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 Aut…

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 …

“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…

**NATIONAL CASTING SEARCH** TV SHOW PILOT Searching for an actress who is 18+ and on the autism spectrum for a leading role in a new Freeform television pilot. If you or someone you know fits the following description and is interested in submitting a self-taped audition, follow the instructions be…

By Austin John Jones Last time I talked about an “Over-Fascination with Certain Subjects That Everyone Else Thinks Are Dumb Or Pointless.” Another thing like that is when you do things over and over again. A lot. Getting up in the morning, taking your medication, listening to the same song over and…

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…