By Matt Valente Orangutan means man of the forest, But man is busy destroying their forest. Oh the Irony! You ask why? Mainly in search of palm oil, We ruin the orangutan’s native soil. These noble beasts are left to die; It’s enough to make your blood boil. Save the orangutans; that’s what I say: …

By Scott Norman Rosenthal “The Malingerer Goes to the Movies,” (a Dis-Ability Coming-Out poem, for Colin Kempner, and Judith Wright) 1. You’re sitting there, and it’s getting harder to breathe. It feels as if a little man, like a gnome, has crept up the back of your seat, and dropped a net in…

Northern Pictures is looking for single autistic people and couples for a new U.S. documentary about autism and dating. Email production@northernpictures.com.au See flyer below. Source: The Art of Autism

By Clare Smith What makes us human? Autistic people already know that one of the enduring myths about us is that we don’t do empathy. That we don’t get how others are feeling. That we don’t even get how we’re feeling. But loads of us can. In fact, many of us have no filter for emotions, so we’re h…

By Nils Skudra This week I had the opportunity to watch Jerry Rothwell’s documentary The Reason I Jump, a profoundly compelling commentary on the lives of several young nonspeaking adults on the autism spectrum. Based on the book of the same title by Naoki Higashida, this documentary explores the u…

“I’m a relentless guy who goes on and on.” Xavier DeGroat By Ron Sandison Xavier DeGroat is motivated, authentic and relentless. These characteristics enabled him to build a strong resume and a celebrity contact list equivalent to a Hollywood Walk of Fame. Xavier has met former Presidents Obam…

In wrapping up our series for Black History Month, The Art of Autism board compiled a list of 24 Black Autistic People you may want to know about. 1. Anita Cameron Anita is one of the original disability rights activitists in the United States. She worked on the passage of the Americans with Disabi…

The fifth in a series of Art of Autism blog posts for Black History Month 2021 compiled by Keri Bowers. Featuring Civil War Historian Nils Skudra From conflicts to major wars, African American’s have fought in every single conflict in United States history. Promises of freedom and other benefits of…

“For while we have our eyes of the future, history has its eyes on us. This is the era of just redemption we feared at its inception.” Amanda Gorman Compiled by Keri Bowers The Art of Autism recognizes the vital historical contributions made by black Americans throughout history via the eyes and art…

“Everyone deserves someone and everyone deserves a friend.” Juliana Fetherman By Ron Sandison I was excited to interview Juliana Fetherman, the founder of Making Authentic Friendships. I saw Juliana and her brother Michael on The Today Show. Juliana created an app to empower young adults with autism…

Black History Month Compilation 1: Art and Writings from our Readers Compiled by Keri Bowers with Angela Weddle and Carly Fulgham Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Martin Luther King, Jr., Minister, Civil Rights Activist …

February is Black History Month. Lois Curtis is 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 live within communities. By Angela…

The 2003 film Radio is based on the true story of T. L. Hanna High School football coach Harold Jones (played by Ed Harris) and an intellectually disabled young man, James Robert “Radio” Kennedy (played by Cuba Gooding Jr.) By Nils Skudra Recently I had the opportunity to watch the film…

Yoga can help bridge the gap between calm and chaotic; it can help give Aspies a spiritual foundation we can take with us out into the social world. By Kate Atkinson 1. Mindfulness & Self Awareness Growing up, I didn’t receive support for being autistic, just as many other autistic women have g…