By Aaron Bouma As an autistic that studies conflicts around the world I have been monitoring the situation in Ukraine for a long time. Of course I knew it was coming but February 24, 2022, was anything but a normal night. When missile strikes and armoured units started coming across the Ukrainian bo…

“Many churches attempt to make accommodations for individuals with disabilities that does not necessarily mean that people with disabilities are included in the life and community of the church and leadership.” Krysia Waldock By Ron Sandison I was excited to interview Krysia Waldock, a P…

By Kaelynn Partlow Autism advocates talk a lot about how we need to “support” people on the spectrum. But when we say “autistic people need support” what does that actually mean? It means giving someone access to an item/activity/service/modification that eliminates or reduces the challenges that ar…

We understand when people are distressed. I can smell the endorphins. By John Testore I suffer for others and I’m always misunderstood for that. People think I want to always be in control. In fact it is my way of prioritizing. I know I’m good at prioritizing. I don’t like acting on inst…

The Art of Autism mourns the loss of Lois Curtis in November 2022. Lois Curtis was an African American artist with intellectual and developmental disabilities and schizophrenia. Curtis paved the way for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities to get out of institutional settings and…

Sixty-year old Tommy Onorato doesn’t let his age or autism diagnosis inhibit him from pursuing his passion of being a jazz singer with a Big Band. By Nils Skudra Several weeks ago, I had the opportunity to watch Tommy! The Dreams I Keep Inside Me, an intriguing documentary about Tommy Onorato,…

By Dan L. Edmunds, PH.D. What is wrong with that boy? He does not really express joy He flaps his arms and lets out a squeal Good Lord! What is his deal? He goes off alone and spins wheels He never tells us how he feels He actually rarely ever says a word It is mostly gibberish that cannot really be…

By Olivia Nguyen I am 27 years old, and I am from Fairfax Virginia. I am actor, playwright and educator, and I am currently a Instructional Assistant for a pre school autism. I went to school at Catholic university and majored in Drama and I went to nova community college and earned my Early chil…

“I’ve always had pretty intense special interests, often kept secret, but Flyleaf was one of the very few that seemed socially acceptable.” By Miya Sae A little over ten years ago, I returned to my freshman dorm after morning classes and was welcomed by the most heartbreaking Facebook po…

My name is Matteo Esposito. I’m am a playwright with autism. I live in a beautiful country called Canada and am the oldest of 4 children. My theatre journey started many moons ago with a show called the jersey boys. I was enthralled by the first time I saw it and I loved every minute of it. At…

By Steven Bereznai During the first COVID lockdown, I really struggled because I was cut off from the organized weekly social outlets I had in my calendar, particularly the masters water polo I’ve trained with for more than 10 years. So, I pursued a long-ignored dream, which was to create a graphic…

Resilience is a key strength for autistic people. By Catherine Londero I was once told by a preschool assistant that “your son needs to work on his resilience.” I couldn’t disagree more. It struck me that so often autistic people, particularly children, are judged by their behaviour. A…

By Nils Skudra One of the most compelling musical films that relates to neurodiversity and social anxiety is Dear Evan Hansen, a 2021 adaptation of the Tony Award-winning musical about an isolated high school senior who becomes the motivational force behind a campaign for mental health awareness fol…

Sylvia Yu is an 18-year-old Southern California based artist who at the age of 3 was diagnosed with autism. Sylvia Yu “Beauty” Early Art Sylvia had trouble interacting socially yet she was able to connect with the world through her wonderful artistic creations. She deals with life’s s…