why I’m no longer employed By an anonymous female on the autism spectrum Sorry, I had to title my first AOA blog with my favorite saying from the King’s Quest video game series. In game VII a very ugly (to some) troll asks the beautiful Princess Rosella for a kiss. Upon rejection his rep…

Cash prizes are provided by the Joe Mantegna Family The Art of Autism is seeking art with the themes of Inclusion, Disability, Education, and Acceptance for display at the 43rd Annual Disability Rights Legal Center FDR Dinner September 15, 2018. Submissions are to be sent to info@artautism.com by Au…

By Annabelle Short Music and the arts can be important avenues to help those on the autism spectrum. This article is going to focus on the use of music to help those on the autism spectrum. Why Music? What does research show about music and autism? One 2004 study looked at the effects that music ha…

Mauricio and Claudia Urrea’s daughter Daniela inspired them to create an organization that partners with companies to find work for those on the autism spectrum. By Mauricio Urrea Spanish version here. 19 years ago, God chose us to take care of a special angel. As parents we never imagined how…

By Amy Highland Those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are often well acquainted with sleep problems. Though statistics vary, it’s estimated that anywhere from 50 to 80 percent of people with ASD struggle to get a full night’s sleep. The problems include difficulty falling asleep, frequent night …

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’…

Update 6/27/2018 I’m collecting favorite quotes about autism from some of my favorite people. Please share your own in the comments and if I like it, I may add it to the list. 1. “If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism,” Dr. Stephen Shor…

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…

Summer is here! Before I tell you about the great summer program at Autistry I want to celebrate and congratulate our students who have successfully found employment. This is a tough job market where even entry level positions often require college degrees. Though Autistry does not formally provide …

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 …

“Be thankful for autism. God shines brightest in weakness, and it comes with strengths that enable us to fill certain job roles better than others would (a talent, if you will).” Peter Lantz By Ron Sandison Recently I had the opportunity to interview Peter Lantz about his career creating…

By Helen Wallace-Iles When you have a child, there’s something nobody tells you: suddenly your first priority becomes another person’s needs instead of your own, and this can take a lot of getting used to. Then comes the twist: as soon as you’ve adjusted to them being totally dependent on you, you h…

Why I paint and share rocks and shells I have hand-painted By Denise Angele Some people think rock painting is silly; some have criticized it as graffiti; some just collect some of the wonderful art of others; some play the game and rehide, some are given as gifts. Rocks are not really damaged, even…

For those on the autism spectrum a 9 to 5 job doesn’t always work By Morgan Giosa One of my biggest struggles in life has been adhering to a structured work environment. In school, my teachers and I were always at odds. I was a bit of an eccentric troublemaker and experienced a lot of anger,…