By Amelie M. Dalporto People often possess prejudices and invite judgement into their everyday interactions. When we see someone who may interact with the world in a way that is different from what we have experienced, we tend to disregard what they have to say and who they are. Art is a form of exp…

“…it is highly significant that a young actor with autism was selected for the role of Alan and that the filmmakers worked with him in a very sensitive and empathetic manner.” By Nils Skudra I recently had the opportunity to watch Dear John, a heartwarming 2010 film based on Nichol…

By Ron Sandison I learned to develop healthy habits by reading Coach Dave Martin’s book Make That, Break That. Most New Year’s resolutions fail within the first month; not from a lack of motivation but a failure to make the resolutions into a habit. We are creatures of habits and good habits can dev…

By Nils Skudra This poem is dedicated to Obie Nash, a very close friend of mine in California who served in World War II and brought home a German war bride. I have since lost contact with him but deeply cherish the time spent with him, listening to his war stories and his insights. I feel honored t…

The Art of Autism asked artist Ronaldo Byrd to share some portraits of people he admires for Black History Month. Ronaldo Byrd “Ida B. Wells” Ida B. Wells was a civil rights activist, journalist and educator. I admire her because she was one of the founders of the National Association fo…

By Gloria Jackson-Nefertiti In 2019, six months before turning 63; it was confirmed that I’m autistic. I was different from everyone else, without knowing why. In grade school, high school, and college, classmates would frequently ask me: “Why do you act the way you do?” “Why do you act so weird?” “…

“A meltdown is a highjack of our emotions.” Ron Sandison By Ron Sandison Most neurotypicals pay little attention to their sensory processing. When you feel cold, you put on a sweater. When music is too loud, you turn down the volume. For me and many other people with autism, our senses provide unrel…

The Art of Autism is accepting contributions of art, poems, and prose for Black History Month. Email info@artautism.com By Dr. Angel Durr, Art of Autism Board member As Black History Month approaches, it’s important to recognize how many African Americans are affected by autism. While autism …

By Nils Skudra This week I had the opportunity to watch In a Different Key, an intriguing and comprehensive documentary that examines the origins of the autism diagnosis and how public understanding of autism has evolved over the decades. Directed by Caren Zucker, a filmmaker whose son Mickey is on…

Documentary on being ‘Black, British and Autistic’ – by Writer / Director Tee Cee – Streaming on discovery+ By Talisha Cree Hi my name is Tee Cee and I am autistic… is not a sentence I ever pictured me writing or saying aloud, but here we are. Think of everything you ever tho…

By Angel Durr, Ph.D. For as long as I can remember I have been heavily drawn to and engaged in the arts. Whether it was musical theater, acting, singing, modeling, dancing, or even creating original art pieces, I have remained an artist for most of my life. Art has always been my first love, but I a…

Artist Ryan Smoluk shares his process of learning and painting about Mozart this last year. Cover image: Ryan Smoluk “Ode to Mozart” By Ryan Smoluk So much has changed in the past couple of year on a global level. The pandemic caught us all off guard, so many are still struggling. We ar…

By Ron Sandison December 7th, my wife Kristen and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. One of the challenges I experienced with autism was relationships. While dating, I had difficulty filtering my comments and unusual behavior: a lack of eye contact, monotone speech, and I often nervously tap…

By Nils Skudra As a fan of the Harry Potter franchise, I always enjoy watching scenes from the films or reading excerpts from the books. One character I am especially intrigued by is Hermione Granger, Harry’s academically gifted and fiery best friend whose intellectual skills prove vital in the succ…