The first in a Continuing Series of Peaceful Art and Poems Compiled by Keri Bowers with contributions by Anthony Brown, Chimezie Ihekuna, Scott Lentine, Maranda Russell, Wells Denison, Eileen Ithra Sobora “Negative words carry negative vibration. Positive words carry positive vibration. What do you …

By Erica Francis Kids on the autism spectrum are kids first; they like to play like most kids do. The difference is in the way they sometimes play. Because the diagnosis of autism covers a full spectrum, no two kids will behave exactly the same but there are often some characteristics many of them h…

With schools starting earlier and earlier, summers are getting shorter and shorter. And this one was certainly fast and furious. But we managed many new projects, exciting excursions, and the launch of two new programs. The Autistry Comprehensive Adult Program (ACAP) began this summer. ACAP is comp…

“My drawing skill developed from a desire to reach a common ground of understanding with people. Watching people speak with the ease of just a few words combined with innuendo and body language has always been a mystery to me,” Steve Selpal (1950 – 2017) By Debra Muzikar and Keri B…

“When people read my book, will they become more understanding of those who are nonverbal? I hope so,” Kimberly Dixon, author of Under the Silence is Me, How it Feels to be Nonverbal By Ron Sandison On April 29, 1985, Jim and Marilyn Dixon were filled with joy as God blessed their family…

“Empowering your young person is the key to giving them the skills they need to live an independent life. If you do things for them that they could learn or even do for themselves by themselves, then you are DISEMPOWERING your young person,” Tom Iland By Debra Muzikar What is your first…

Many a passer-by has sneered, “Hey, buddy, that dog’s walking you! You’re the boss! Take control!” By Nils Skudra Years ago my beloved service animal, a bichon frise named Beauregard (after the same guy who ordered the firing of the first shots on Fort Sumter) succumbed to renal failure. When I grad…

I am Syance and I would like to say that my experience at the California State Museum in Sacramento was a blessing and a miracle because I almost did not get to go.  When I received the email, which confirmed that the people in charge of the museum chose my artwork to be a part of this installa…

“Often a person with a disability is not even seen as a person except as a recipient, a beneficiary, a consumer, a client, a caseload number, or someone who simply and constantly needs help … not a person who needs and wants a life like anyone else – love, happiness, and joy…” Marty Omoto By D…

“Food and art brings us together,” Covina Mayor Jorge Marquez By Debra Muzikar Covina Councilman John King and Mayor Marquez The Art of Autism is honored to be a participating group in an exhibit titled Essence: An Exhibit by Exceptional Artists held at the H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Cu…

I want to wear a Niqab or Burqa to my son’s wedding…the wedding notices specify no dress code. Editor’s Note: This is a true story. It is humor and not meant to offend those of the Muslim faith or their attire. By Claudia Casser Why do I want to? I’m vain, I’m fairly frugal, and I …

Visiting the dentist doesn’t have to be a traumatic experience for your autistic child. By Ron Sandison One of the worst sensory experiences for me as a child was the visit to the dentist. I couldn’t stand the sounds of the drills or the dental scaler pick scratching away plaque. These s…

I often imagine words in fancy fonts swirling out of my mouth only to fall on the floor unheard. So many misconceptions about selective mutism exist. By Kimberly Gerry-Tucker Like many people who have been diagnosed autistic (in my case Aspergers), I have an overlapping condition: Selective Mutism. …

By Steve Selpal After learning about my particular cancer diagnosis, I was fortunate to have a special experience with Quartz Crystal Singing Bowls. Three women practitioners of Bowls were present helping me to meditate and concentrate on healing. This is the technique that was used, where I was la…