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 Gloria Jackson-Nefertiti In 2019, six months before turning 63; it was confirmed that I’m autistic. I was different from everyone else, without knowing why. In grade school, high school, and college, classmates would frequently ask me: “Why do you act the way you do?” “Why do you act so weird?” “…

“A meltdown is a highjack of our emotions.” Ron Sandison By Ron Sandison Most neurotypicals pay little attention to their sensory processing. When you feel cold, you put on a sweater. When music is too loud, you turn down the volume. For me and many other people with autism, our senses provide unrel…

The Art of Autism is accepting contributions of art, poems, and prose for Black History Month. Email info@artautism.com By Dr. Angel Durr, Art of Autism Board member As Black History Month approaches, it’s important to recognize how many African Americans are affected by autism. While autism …

By Nils Skudra This week I had the opportunity to watch In a Different Key, an intriguing and comprehensive documentary that examines the origins of the autism diagnosis and how public understanding of autism has evolved over the decades. Directed by Caren Zucker, a filmmaker whose son Mickey is on…

This is a Casting Call for autistic actors The Art of Autism received this week. “I’m working on the second season of Love On The Spectrum US, an Emmy-Award winning documentary series on Netflix about dating and relationships featuring people on the autism spectrum. Our aim with the se…

We understand when people are distressed. I can smell the endorphins. By John Testore I suffer for others and I’m always misunderstood for that. People think I want to always be in control. In fact it is my way of prioritizing. I know I’m good at prioritizing. I don’t like acting on inst…

“I’ve always had pretty intense special interests, often kept secret, but Flyleaf was one of the very few that seemed socially acceptable.” By Miya Sae A little over ten years ago, I returned to my freshman dorm after morning classes and was welcomed by the most heartbreaking Facebook po…

By Kaelynn Partlow As someone diagnosed with autism, I have always had “intense” or “obsessive” interests in different subject areas. As someone who is also diagnosed with several severe learning disabilities, to say I’ve struggled academically would be an understatement. When I was a kid, I used t…

Resilience is a key strength for autistic people. By Catherine Londero I was once told by a preschool assistant that “your son needs to work on his resilience.” I couldn’t disagree more. It struck me that so often autistic people, particularly children, are judged by their behaviour. A…

By Nils Skudra One of the most compelling musical films that relates to neurodiversity and social anxiety is Dear Evan Hansen, a 2021 adaptation of the Tony Award-winning musical about an isolated high school senior who becomes the motivational force behind a campaign for mental health awareness fol…

Sylvia Yu is an 18-year-old Southern California based artist who at the age of 3 was diagnosed with autism. Sylvia Yu “Beauty” Early Art Sylvia had trouble interacting socially yet she was able to connect with the world through her wonderful artistic creations. She deals with life’s s…

“You are always one decision away from a totally different life.” Author Unknown By Ron Sandison As a young adult with autism I often struggled with making decisions and taking healthy risks. After employment and relationships this was my greatest challenge. I have learned to take risks …

“Autistic burnouts for me feel like the puzzle pieces in Tetris falling so fast you don’t have enough time to line them up before they reach the top and the videogame is over, burnouts leave me feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.” Ron Sandison By Ron Sandison I’ve experienced many autistic burnouts …