By S. Scott Sanderson It’s terrible to feel like you are less than That you are not the same, you know Eccentric, maybe even crazy That is ok But then they label you as less than That you do not like Measuring up as short Leaves you wondering why God would make you different than Those you wish you …

By Robbie Janzen Autistic, aspie, neurodivergent On one hand, I don’t want these words to define me On the other hand, I know that they kind of do Every thought, every action, is affected By something I didn’t choose to be When I first found out, I was ecstatic I’m not uniquely screwed up, there are…

By Nils Skudra As a passionate fan of European history, I have a strong fascination with Napoleon Bonaparte, the brilliant and charismatic general who became dictator and then emperor of France in the period following the French Revolution. One of the most enigmatic figures in world history, Napole…

by Dr. Dan L. Edmunds With the clipboard they stood and made demands They wrote, ‘Five times he flapped his hands’ They offered me a treat If I did not move my feet Echolalia is repeating your own phrase Progress is repeating according to our ways Look at everyone in the eye We do not w…

Being part of the Austin Adult Neurodiversity Group has been an enlightening experience for me, providing the opportunity to make connections with other neurodiverse adults and listen to their perspectives on various aspects of neurodiversity. By Nils Skudra Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pa…

By Dianne Loyet 3 poems about being autistic. 1. Please i keep the world’s chaos at bay by classifying and quantifying its minutia seven times i hear "cross street with caution vehicles may not stop" two steps i take across one square of sidewalk i am captain kirk keeping the sky in place …

By S. Scott Sanderson Sometimes I feel A bubbling coming up Inside me It cannot be contained When I was younger, I used to give in I would dance, a happy dance Limbs flailing wildly Dancing back and forth And in circles Sometimes, I’d clap Into the air No reason needed Just an unbridled enthusiasm O…

By Amanda Porche For as long as I can recall I have always felt like and outsider. I believed that I was this deep, dark individual that nobody could possibly understand. Some of this comes from being an autistic child and starting school with significant verbal and developmental delays. I knew I wa…

The poem, “More Than One Way to Fly,” I wrote in honor of my son, who is on the autism spectrum. The poem, which illustrates the relationship between a social Chickadee and a solitary Brown Creeper, is an appeal for neurotypicals to reach out to the marginalized. By Tami Ullom More Than One Way to …

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…

Ocean Eversley is a self-taught artist who started painting in 2020 during the pandemic. She use’s art (i.e., poetry, acrylic painting, collage, and photography) to express the beauty and the suffering she sees in the world. In addition, she uses art to highlight the injustices that BIPOC (Black, In…

Ocean Eversely is a self-taught artist who started painting in 2020 during the pandemic. She use’s art (i.e., poetry, acrylic painting, collage, and photography) to express the beauty and the suffering she sees in the world. In addition, she uses art to highlight the injustices that BIPOC (Black, In…

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…