By Connor Long-Johnson My story begins when I was first diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome in early 2017. I naturally both needed and wanted to share my diagnosis with friends, family and co-workers. Thankfully, most of those who I told were understanding and showed me the compassion I desper…

Tal Anderson plays the character Sid on the Netflix original series Atypical. By Ron Sandison My favorite Netflix original series is Atypical. I love watching Keir Gilchrist portray Sam Gardner, a young adult with Asperger’s. I was excited to interview Tal Anderson, a young adult actress with autism…

“I’m often the first to hear alarms. I can differentiate sounds quickly and more easily. My sensitivity to touch helps with palpation during a nurse exam. I can feel if something is different or off.” An interview with Ron Sandison Like many women, Nurse Jackie Anne Blair was diagnosed w…

By Ikea “Syance” Wilson I would like to say something about the R-word. Not only do I think it is offensive, I also believe this word could tear people down inside mentally and emotionally. We often use this word in order to express frustration to one another. However, this is not an ac…

“What people forget is that autism is a developmental disability. It’s not a learning disability. We’re not all nerdy guys who are good at math like Sheldon on the ‘Big Bang Theory.’ We come in all shapes and sizes. I want to create a paradigm shift to view students with autism as the bright…

By Katherine Valdoria I have always had a hard time “owning” labels. You know when you’re taking a class or participating in a workshop and they sit you in a circle and ask you to say your name and “something interesting” about yourself, to break the ice? I hate that. I get overwhelmed with…

By Kaelynn Partlow Often those of us on the autism spectrum do things that neurotypical people have difficulty understanding. To outsiders, autistic behavior can look “odd” or seem “not to make sense.” Sometimes a person’s behavior can even be frightening. It’s not uncommon for autistic…

“To be successful in the workplace individuals with autism need to find ways to create a demand for their skills and develop a portfolio that shows their talents.” Ron Sandison interviews Nathaniel Reed Geyer, Phd       1.  At what age were you diagnosed with autism? &…

By Nils Skudra Last year’s premiere of the first season of The Good Doctor, starring Freddie Highmore as autistic surgical resident Shaun Murphy, drew widespread acclaim among many viewers for its realistic depiction of the strengths and challenges associated with being on the autism spectrum, which…

If you’ve met one person who is a runner, you’ve met one person who is a runner. By Tracey Cohen Without a doubt, running, like autism, can be full of challenge, even painful at times. But the willingness to embrace difficulty is giving oneself the opportunity to flourish, to live a fulf…

Wendy describes the challenges for someone on the autism spectrum for what many would call a simple outing. By Wendi E. Powers Going out in public is always an adventure for those of us on the autism spectrum.  While I can’t speak for the others, I can share a personal example.  Just…

Ron Sandison interviews Dr. Paula Kluth, consultant, author, advocate and independent consultant What inspired you to study special education in college? My high school started welcoming students with more complex needs when I was a senior. I approached the teacher to volunteer and work in her c…

Austin shares what it is like to have a panic attack and wants others to share their experiences. By Austin John Jones What I am about to talk about I think is a very personal experience for me. However, I want to tell you about it because I know I can’t be the only person on earth who has felt this…

An interview with Karla Akins, Author of A Pair of Miracles: A Story of Autism, Faith, and Determined Parenting By Ron Sandison 1. What were the first signs your twin boys had autism? The twins cried and screamed constantly. They bit one another mercilessly from the time they could crawl. They were…