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…

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…

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 …

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…

By Nils Skudra One film that I have been moved to watch numerous times is Tom Hooper’s The King’s Speech, a 2010 biographical depiction of King George VI of Great Britain and the struggle to overcome his speech impediment. I felt that this would be a prime candidate for a film review since people or…

The story of an all-deaf football team delivers a compelling portrayal of how deaf individuals view their identity. Watch the film here. By Nils Skudra This afternoon I took the opportunity to watch a truly amazing short documentary entitled All American-Family, directed by Andrew Jenks. This film…

Our own mothers were ashamed of us. Hid us our whole lives. Then you pull us out of the shadows… Maybe it was about making a buck. But you gave us a real family. By Nils Skudra One of the most upbeat films I’ve seen is The Greatest Showman, a 2017 musical biopic starring Hugh Jackman as Phineas Tayl…

Disability empowerment … can bend the moral arc of a neurotypical universe into one which supports the idea that initiative and hard work is valuable in and of itself, in whichever way it chooses to manifest. By Nils Skudra A little prefatory material is perhaps in order before I engage in a bit of …

“…the notion of a “neurotypical savior” who brings a severely challenged and mistreated autistic individual out of their shell would be considered offensive by many viewers today due to recognition of the success in self-advocacy and professional achievement that so many individuals on t…

“A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself,” Oprah Winfrey By Nils Skudra Over the course of my life, I’ve found having a close mentor is extremely valuable since a mentor is an individual that I can confide in and who offers important lessons. During the two and…

by Nils Valdis Vytautas Skudra I trust like any neurotypical individual, people on the autism spectrum such as myself are also vulnerable to constant advertising campaigns which urge us to buy new products and services. The word “upgrade” seems to be a rather recent linguistic invention but it is…

“Shine’s” depiction of David Helfgott’s passionate pursuit and achievement of success as a pianist in spite of his severe mental challenges sends an uplifting message that continues to resonate among people on the autism spectrum in today’s environment where employers are increasin…

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…

Mozart and the Whale is a film adapted from Jerry Newport and Mary Newport’s autobiographical book Mozart and the Whale: An Asperger’s Love Tale. By Nils Skudra I first watched the 2005 film Mozart and the Whale several years ago and have since viewed it numerous times. I just saw it aga…