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…

By Allison Hill A few weeks ago Taylor Swift invited us to her concert and backstage to meet her.  We were so excited to get to thank her for Reid, Jacob’s service dog, in person.  Reid has changed Jacob’s life and our family life so so much.  I don’t think that she …

By Kimberly Gerry Tucker The children who visit me always ask to look for treasures with me. I am more than happy to oblige. I have shoe boxes filled with treasures: sparkly rocks, cracked hollow geodes, rocks shaped by nature like hearts, and the odd sterling silver half dollar; among other things.…

October is National Bullying Prevention Month. The Art of Autism is posting personal stories of how people on the autism spectrum overcame bullying or abusive situations. By Christian D. Espicha According to the a survey by the National Autistic Society in the U.K. , half of autistic adults are abus…

TRIGGER WARNING: This post contains information about sexual assault and/or violence which may be triggering to survivors. by W.E.Powers A seven-year-old girl sits in her tree house mending a Barbie who has just suffered catastrophic injuries. Plastic army men, following the orders of her two young…

By Baylie Nixon Since my first post to “The Art of Autism,” I was requested to write another article about how I was diagnosed and how I found out roughly a decade later of said diagnosis. In my last entry, I mentioned I was diagnosed as a toddler, but found out about my diagnosis when I was a teena…

“A self portrait is an artist being honest with himself, taking the time to go into the spotlight to try to find something they didn’t know about themselves.”  Aaron Erik Mitchell Aaron Eric Mitchell “Negative Digits” Negative Digits is about the struggles that peo…

We are well into the new school semester and I still haven’t done a summer wrap-up newsletter. Let’s fix that! In June we launched our first Autistry Comprehensive Adult Program (ACAP) Summer Session. It was five days a week of exercise, vocational training, college prep, and fun. The pr…

“Astronauts helped me learn more about our planet, how beautiful it is from space, how important it is to take care of it. One day my dream is to go to Space, to the Moon or to Mars,”  Hayden “10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…” As astronaut Tim Peake blasted off on his journey to reach…

by W.E.Powers What is it? I see it in the eyes of those battling mental health issues. I see it as a wet, dim band of light cutting through the blues, browns, and greens of those impacted by autism. Sometimes it reflects a struggle against depression or PTSD. It is often a scoreboard worn on the fac…

“The Dove of Peace, more than anything that’s something this world needs, peace. He is flying through the city at night in front of a billboard that shows the earth holding a banner reading “Peace”. I love to draw. I think it’s because it calms me down. For whatever reason I a…

In 2017, the Social Stories Spectrum Project provided a structured opportunity for high-functioning verbal young adults (ages 18-25) with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to meet up with their peers and practice social skills, participate in organized trips to seven museums in Balboa Park, and work…

Wendy describes the challenges for someone on the autism spectrum for what many would call a simple outing. By Wendi E. Powers Going out in public is always an adventure for those of us on the autism spectrum.  While I can’t speak for the others, I can share a personal example.  Just…

As an autistic person myself, I do not take being verbal for granted and I understand how powerful writing can be to express oneself. I understand Pam’s saturation in books, her safe places to escape to and think, because I had mine too and still do. I identify with the types of “beyond the norm” gi…