By Catherine Londero Back when it was first announced that England was going into lockdown, many let out a sigh of dread. I did not. In fact, it was more an inhalation of fresh air. While so many people faced difficulties living with these restrictions, I was discovering a new sense of freedom. No m…

“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 …

By Dennis Procopio “Dennis, please just get in the f***ing car.” This was my mother, pleading with her 9-year-old son to sit in a friend’s car which had crushed velvet seats. I wouldn’t. I couldn’t. It felt…. unbearable. As she herself was diagnosed with a laundry list of clinical diagnoses includ…

The Father was nominated for six Academy Awards including best picture and best actor. By Nils Skudra Last night I had the opportunity to watch The Father, a powerful psychological drama directed by Florian Zeller which revolves around the relationship between a middle-aged daughter and her elderly …

My name is Zach Stehle. I am 22 and I have autism. In the past month, I have also received over 15 million views on TikTok! It all started one day in the beginning of July 2022. I was sitting in my room, minding my own business, reading a comic book and stroking my cat, Piper. All of a sudden, I hea…

By Na’Imah Todd, DVM I speak in silence, but language is my story. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a prodigy is defined as “a young person who is unusually talented in some way.” For me, this has always been language. My family recounts I started speaking at around 9 months of age. Som…

My Friend Theo By Scott Lentine He jumps for joy when you open the door Very happy and delighted to see you Doing a happy dance on the floor And enjoying getting hugs too   He loves looking out the windows Hoping to see other dogs and humans as well He gets a thrill out of playing various games…

“Growing up as an autism sibling was not easy and there was a lot of things I never understood, but as an adult I’ve learned how to find gratitude for the journey.” Natalie Castro By Ron Sandison Autism and sensory issues makes living space important to me. Home is a place for me to decompress and r…

“Whether you enjoy the event or not, the social hangover is inevitable” By Catherine Londero I am Autistic, have ADHD, and I enjoy social events. There is a common misconception that Autistic people avoid social events because we don’t enjoy them. What I don’t enjoy is the impact on my mind and body…

By Ron Sandison As a theologian with autism, I enjoyed reading Summer Kinard’s book Of Such is the Kingdom: A Practical Theology of Disability. Kinnard shares her insight on Orthodox theology and empowering people with disabilities for full participation in the life of the Church. On June 8th I wi…

By Miya Sae It’s crazy what a lack of understanding can do even to those of us who are autistic. I was born in the earlier half of the 90s. There was more stigma. Hateful organizations were the only ones in the spotlight. Stereotypes weren’t being fought against as much as they are today. “End Autis…

Autism Level 1 Speaks By Theresa Werba In a world of hyper-stimuli, Lights and sounds and touches, I retreat into the world within myself for relief. There is too much to process all at once, It comes at me like a screaming hoard, shoving up against my walls and forcing me to interact. Why interact?…

By Ryan Smoluk All Without Words As a self-advocate for autism awareness and a visual artist, I was so excited when this project came my way. It allowed me to create art that represents neurodiversity. I was free to create whatever images that flowed into my imagination. There were no boundaries. Cr…

By Nils Skudra This morning I had the opportunity to watch My Name is David, a compelling short film featuring the actual words of David Shapiro Sharif (May 28, 1997 – April 23, 2022), a young autism advocate who recently died suddenly at the age of 24. Made in Claymation, the film provides a…