By Aaron Bouma For my peoples with disabilities, stigma is something we continuously face. It is how we are perceived to be, to act, and what we are believed to be capable of as well as what expections people have when they become involved with us. Expectations can be like a scale. It can be good …

By Ron Sandison When I was diagnosed with autism in 1982 only one in every 10,000 children in the United States had an autism diagnosis. As a teenager, I felt different, much like an endangered species. I was often excluded from social activities due to my outbursts and meltdowns. The neurodiversit…

Naomi Rubin from Atypical Seasons 2 and 3 co-starred this holiday season in It’s a Wonderful Life’s table read which can be purchased at the Ed Asner Family Center website. The proceeds from the production help young adults and families with autism. By Ron Sandison Last year I interviewed Tal Ander…

“Synesthesia is a gift but it is also a beautiful language that needs its own translation.” Jeremy Sicile-Kira The essay below was written by 17-year old Abigail Delizo for a University of Toronto assignment for a course on Creating Community: Art, Identity and Belonging. Communicatio…

Some things that have helped me with uncertainty and anxiety are below. By Aaron Bouma If you’re like me, an autistic adult that is dealing with anxiety and a strained mind at times, you are far from alone. Does uncertainty give you anxiety? For me, it does. For instance, if there is a militar…

Entering the holiday season, I realized how thankful I am for the five mentors God has brought into my life and ministry. These men empowered me to become the man I am today. I hope to mentor and inspire other young adults on the autism spectrum to accomplish their dreams. By Ron Sandison As I refle…

October is National Disability Employment Awareness month. I struggled for years with employment; I am now gainfully employed going on 13.6 years in the mental health field and 18 years part-time as a professor of theology and speak at over 70 events a year. As I refined my talents and special inter…

Through his parent’s love and support, Michael now is an author, has a third-degree black belt, a Master’s degree in Business Administration, and a career as a data processor. By Ron Sandison Michael Goodroe is an amazing young adult on the autism spectrum. He is the author of What Autism Gave Me: …

“I have what’s kind of a stereotypical autistic memory for details and facts, which has been helpful in different ways as a priest.” Matthew Schneider By Ron Sandison Father Matthew P. Schneider has over 65,000 followers between Twitter and Instagram and is completing a doctorate in moral theo…

By Ron Sandison The killing of George Floyd by four Minneapolis police officers sparked riots and public debate on the conduct of law enforcement, even having some suggest disbanding the police force. What if the law enforcement is not the main problem but how it operates for profit and lack of tra…

By Aaron Bouma For much of my life I have been mainly focused on military history and military affairs as my main special interest. Many Autistics have a strong interest in a specific topic which we fixate on. In 2007, a year after I graduated from high school, I attempted to join the Canadian Force…

By Ron Sandison Father’s Day is especially meaningful to me as a dad with autism, I try not to take the responsibility for granted with my hectic schedule of writing and speaking. When I was diagnosed with autism at age seven the experts informed my parents I would probably never get married and ha…

“The tables have turned I am now the stud that wrestlers are afraid to face on the mat.” Caiden Hooks By Ron Sandison Caiden Hooks finds motivation to overcome every challenge by his favorite Scripture 2 Corinthians 5:7, “For we live by faith, not by sight.” Multi-talented Caiden qualified for the …

Ron Sandison interviews child musical prodigy Jacob Velazquez For those who missed Jacob Velazquez on America’s Got Talent here’s a video of his appearance: I had the opportunity to ask Jacob a few questions about his autism and his music. 1. How did PDD-NOS effect you as a child and at…