By Vicki Koslin Howell “But she talks so much.” If I had to hear that sentence again from professionals assessing my daughter for autism, I’d explode. The truth is, I never thought I’d have a daughter with autism, even though I’ve spent my life with a going on 31 year old ADHD diagnosis tagged on my…

By Kadin McElwain Last month, after my usual morning routine, I had to sit down with my family and have breakfast. That morning, we all had some healthy protein pancakes, made with whole oats. I’m not the biggest fan of oats, nuts, peanut butter, and the like, so I was a bit hesitant to eat the meal…

By Martine Mussies It was a bright, sunny day, just after yet another lockdown had lifted during the COVID era. I was cycling along the bustling terraces that lined the canals of Utrecht, soaking in the lively atmosphere that had returned to the city. As I passed through the crowds, my eyes caught s…

By Jack Pemment Should we even be sharing our voices with voice activated assistants? The thought of using my voice to request certain functions through such assistants as Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant has always struck me as weird and a bit awkward. I am not talking to them, after all, I am acti…

By Martine Mussies In the muggy classroom, even the most recalcitrant boys now seemed too lame to argue. It was a scorching hot day, a few days before the summer holidays. The textbook for Dutch language was finished and the textbook for calculation was far from it, but I believe the teacher had giv…

By Martine Mussies 7 Types of Rest for Neurodivergent People Rest is essential for everyone, but it is especially important for neurodiverse people. Non-neurotypicals are simply more likely to experience sensory overload, autistic burnout, and other challenges that can be exacerbated by a feeling of…

By Jack Pemment There are two things that can severely determine a person’s social fate: A criminal verdict and a mental health diagnosis. Regardless of the true events behind the criminal verdict, the return of guilty by a judge will sway most public opinion in a direction where the recent defendan…

by Joel Ashton-Fogle Waiting Room 1 Arriving in a state. Heart racing. Bracing self and pacing, chasing, facing wait with weight Afraid of light. Afraid of sound. Each breath exploding, foreboding Eroding ground Concrete ejection seat Might hurl me into obsolete. Confiscation, condemnation, Where is…

“…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 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…

“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…

“Whether you enjoy the event or not, the social hangover is inevitable” By Catherine Londero I am Autistic, have ADHD, and I enjoy social events. There is a common misconception that Autistic people avoid social events because we don’t enjoy them. What I don’t enjoy is the impact on my mind and body…

By Zach Labbadia It goes without saying that the acting market is highly saturated, which makes it a very competitive creative profession. Besides connections and talent, to achieve any success you must have an identifiable brand or anything that would make you unique in the industry. Last year, whe…

Happy Autism Acceptance Month. World Autism Awareness Day is Saturday, April 2! This month The Art of Autism looks at #ActuallyAutistic Instagram influencers you may want to follow. Do you know someone we should follow? Place your suggestions in the comments below. 1. Greta Thunberg Environmen…