Fallbrook artist Joel Anderson, “The Artist of Smiles,” has his dog portraits on display at TERI Campus of Life in San Marcos through October 2026. By Debra Muzikar Last week I had the pleasure to assist Fallbrook artist Joel Anderson in hanging his dog series art outside Teri’s Co…

The Biology of Breaking By Jessica Penot An autistic meltdown is an involuntary loss of behavioral, emotional, and physiological regulation that occurs when an autistic person’s ability to cope with sensory, cognitive, emotional, or environmental demands is exceeded. Unlike a temper tantrum, a meltd…

By Nils Skudra Recently I had the opportunity to watch The World’s Fastest Indian, a 2005 biographical sports drama starring Anthony Hopkins in the role of Burt Munro, an eccentric speed bike racer from Invercargill, New Zealand, who set multiple land speed records for motorcycles with engines less…

By Nils Skudra This past weekend, I had the opportunity to watch Craig Gillespie’s Lars and the Real Girl, a heartwarming romantic comedy/drama about Lars Lindstrom, a socially awkward young man who orders a life-size female doll for companionship and treats it as a real person. The film provides an…

By Sofia Mochon-Ciniglio Art education is a multifaceted and complicated endeavor. It involves the mastery of artistic and studio practice, yet also the maintenance of an integral mindset of patience, respect and (as I’ve come to realize in the course of my work with special needs children) boundari…

The Art of Autism is featured in Feedspot’s Top 100 Autism Blogs! By Jeremy Sicile-Kira The movie Ezra is the story of a child who is a truly beautiful soul dearly misunderstood by all the grownups he meets in a professional capacity. It is also a frankly amazing portrayal of one family’s expe…

By Nils Skudra This past weekend, I had the opportunity to watch ASD Band: The Movie, a highly informative documentary about a group of young musicians on the autism spectrum in Toronto who have formed a band, named “ASD Band,” that actively promotes autism awareness and acceptance. Each of the band…

By Nils Skudra This past week, I had the opportunity to watch Tyson’s Run, a 2022 film directed by Kim Bass, on Netflix. The film portrays the compelling story of Tyson Hollerman, a 15-year-old boy with Autism who aspires to be a marathon runner and actively pursues his dream with the support of his…

by Kris McElroy My journey to coming out as a neurodiverse transgender parent was a rollercoaster of self-discovery, courage, and vulnerability. Navigating the complexities of my neurodiversity and my transgender identity made me realize the power of authenticity and the importance of creating an in…

By Cory Morrison Background Ironically, in 2005, around the same time I discovered my perfect pitch ability (as I talked about in my first article), I also developed a special interest that I still have to this day (18 long years! The age people graduate from high school). This special interest is t…

“I want to be there for other autistic people the way my mom was there for me, with the additional level of having actually experienced autism firsthand. It is so empowering to have someone genuinely care about you and understand you.” Brielle Williams By Ron Sandison I was excited to interview Brie…

By Nils Skudra As a passionate fan of European history, I have a strong fascination with Napoleon Bonaparte, the brilliant and charismatic general who became dictator and then emperor of France in the period following the French Revolution. One of the most enigmatic figures in world history, Napole…

By Nils Skudra Recently I had the opportunity to watch The Horse Boy, a deeply intriguing and thought-provoking documentary on a couple’s efforts to find an effective source of therapeutic treatment for their young son on the autism spectrum. This documentary, released in 2009, provides a highly com…

The Art of Autism kicks off our 8th Annual Arts & Poems for Peace Project. We will be posting on Facebook peace submissions throughout the month of October. By Dawn Baker The Oxford English Dictionary writes that peace is ‘freedom from disturbance’. The Hebrew root for peace (shalom) is a bles…