I am a blossoming flower. By Angela Chapes My childhood had many challenges and I wasn’t the happiest person. I wasn’t always kind or nice. Fortunately, I had great influences in my life like my mom and my grandmother. They had such sunshiny personalities; I have worked to become that way too, by e…

“I believe God gives each of us a purpose. To the horse, it’s to run across the prairie. For a cowboy, it’s to ride,” Brady Blackburn (Brady Jandreau) By Nils Skudra This evening I just finished watching The Rider, a compelling biographical western film directed by Chloé Zhao and starring Bra…

“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…

“I thought to myself, ‘I know all the professional musicians in the area. Why not bring them to my house for socially distanced jam sessions in front of small crowds?’ The results were more than I could have anticipated—seeing as I now have an ongoing concert series in my own backyard…” By Morgan Gi…

“I struggle with visualising that first-imagined image; however, I know what it is I want to create. This disconnect was frustrating for me, so I taught myself this 4-stage process which works well to help me reach my desired artistic outcome.” By Sheryl Hanna-Kumas The migration of my autistic artw…

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…

It’s hard to believe that the Covid saga goes on, and we are still on full lockdown here in Manitoba. The isolation has been so difficult for so many people. Having autism has its perks, for me life has gone on pretty much the same. I just stay focused and continue to create lots of new art. Now whe…

By David Wilson I am not sure what I should say on this website. I do feel like I should say something. Within the auspices of this ‘place’ I can only claim to be neurodivergent with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. I believe that I am myself and am the way I am because it is “who” I am at this phase …

My year in pictures. And what a year it has been. By Christian Espicha I have gone from being a terrified wreck in fear for my health and very existence to a grateful and (mostly) peaceful being who has taken control of my health, faced the fear of death and have become healthy and well adjusted wit…

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…

Considered the father of theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence, Alan Turing’s idiosyncrasies have led some historians to speculate that he may have had Asperger’s syndrome. Editor’s Note: Asperger’s syndrome is a previously used diagnosis which was under the autism …

My name is Beth Lipari and I am a Casting Director in Los Angeles, working along with my casting partners, Sarah Katzman and Lisa Beach, on a feature film called WILDFLOWER, featuring a strong, supporting part for a woman with IDD. Based on a true story, it will bring to life a young woman’s…

Autistic Emotions Happy, sadness, envy, fear, and surprise— 6 emotions, 6 logics, all misunderstood. Smile, tears, growl, grimace, whimper, and jaw dropping— 6 actions, 6 expressions, all human. Comedy, tragedy, revenge, rival, horror, and plot twist— 6 encounters, 6 experiences, all stories. Y…

By Jordan Wilson-Dalzell There are many ways you can show up and support autistic people. First, remember to listen to us. We are the experts on autism and our own lived experiences. Support autistic folks in your lives by listening to them first, and learn from autistic voices in general. A place…